Belaruskali reported that it has begun the main stage of the operation to sink the cage shaft at its new Darasinsky potash mine. Cage shaft sinking started in December (GM Dec. 11, 2020). The work is being undertaken by Belarus’s Trest Shakhtospetsstroy.
Belaruskali began construction of the new mine, located in the western area of the northern section of Belarus’ Starobinsky deposit, in May 2019 (GM May 24, 2019), and is targeting a nameplate capacity of some 8 million mt/y of potash ore, which it plans to subsequently increase to 9 million mt/y.
Once in production, Darasinsky will help boost Belaruskali’s potash production and will extend the operational life of the company’s third production site (RU-3), where the ore from the new mine will be processed.
The new mine, once operational, will provide for the creation of 840 jobs, Belarus’ state-owned news agency BelTa reported.