Russia’s Acron Group has confirmed plans to start potash production in 2026 at its Talitsky potash mining project under development in Russia’s Perm Region. The operation will have an initial production capacity of 2 million mt/y of potash when fully ramped up.
Acron Group CEO Alexander Popov confirmed the production start in a Sept. 20 company statement following a meeting in Perm between the CEO, Acron Group Vice President Vladimir Kantor, and Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin.
According to the statement, construction of Talitsky’s mine and surface facilities is well underway. Acron reported in March that the construction of the skip and cage shafts had been completed (GM March 10, p. 29). Some 2,000 people will be employed at the site when it becomes operational.
The potash mine project is the largest in Acron’s history, Kantor said. Total investment will be $2.7 billion, of which $1.3 billion already has been invested. Talitsky is being developed through the CJSC Verkhnekamsk Potash Co. (VPC), in which Acron currently owns 50% plus one share.
Early this month, Interfax reported that Acron had extended options to buy back two share tranches in VPC until December 2023 in the case of a 19.5% tranche, and until February 2024 for a 10% tranche (GM Sept. 1, p. 26). Russian banks Sberbank Investments, Otkritie Bank, and VTB Group reportedly hold the remaining shareholdings in VPC.