Berezniki, Russia-Uralkali has confirmed the flooding of its number one mine in the Perm region (GM Oct. 30, p. 9), with an inflow first detected Oct. 19. While it has invited experts in for an assessment, it noted that there are transgressions to the water-protective stratum that may possibly lead to the loss of the mine. On Oct. 28, the company decided to move all workers to the surface, including those involved in pumping activities. This was due to the increased speed of the inflow, which reached 1,200 cubic meters per hour or more. The concentration of hydrogene sulphide increased as well. The company said that as a result of the closure, potash extraction will be off 20 percent. Uralkali’s production plan for 2007, providing 6.2 million mt KCl, can be reconsidered and reduced approximately by 1.2 million mt. Number one is the company’s oldest mine and was constructed in the 1930s. Uralkali said that number one’s reserves were near exhaustion, though it did say they may have lasted another 7-10 years.
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