Uralkali said that on Feb. 17 it discovered a sinkhole with a diameter of 5 meters near the minefield of the flooded Bereznik-1 mine. The area had been fenced off and had restricted access since 2013. This is a separate incident from the recent sinkhole near the Solikamsk-2 mine which is having problems with flooding.
Uralkali said continued comprehensive monitoring of the area has been in place since 2006. Based on analysis of the monitoring data, it said engineering firm, Galurgiya, predicted in 2013 that soil subsidence might occur in this area in 2015. As a result, Galurgiya and the Mining Institute of the Urals Branch of the Russian Academy of Science determined the boundaries of this hazardous zone and it was later confirmed by Rostechnadzor.
Uralkali said the soil subsidence will not impact the current activity of the industrial facilities or social infrastructure in Berezniki.
Uralkali’s assets consist of five mines and seven ore-treatment mills situated in the towns of Berezniki and Solikamsk (Perm Region, Russia).