The VI International Scientific and Technical Conference Completed its Work in Moscow

Traditionally, it was organized by VNIPIpromtechnologii, JSC (Engineering Center of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co./Mining Division of the ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation), N.V. Melnikov Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPKON RAS), and Academy of Mining Sciences.

Scientists and representatives of leading mining enterprises presented modern developments reducing the environmental impact and increasing the economic efficiency of production. In particular, IPKON RAS presented the technology for preparation of the rock mass by the drilling and blasting method, ensuring a reduction in the specific consumption of explosives. Scientists of FSBI VIMS told about new ways of thickening for gold-antimony ores, which exclude harmful effects. The conference participants also learned about an environmentally friendly method of processing ash and slag waste, methods of mine water cleaning, methods of object environmental monitoring of the geological environment. Traditionally, a wide range of developments was presented by scientists of the Mining Division of the ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation. This includes new methods of concrete fastening of mine shafts, technology of production of filling mixtures for filling the mined-out space of underground mines, the use of new materials for technological wells in difficult climatic conditions, etc. It is important that all the developments of VNIPIpromtechnologii, JSC, PIMCU, PJSC, Khiagda, JSC and RUSBURMASH, JSC have been successfully tested in practice and have proven environmental and economic efficiency in the real conditions of existing mining enterprises.

«That is why our colleagues have a very high practical interest in the reports of scientists from the Mining Division. I can say that during the conference we have signed protocols on cooperation, in particular, with companies from the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Engineering Center will continue to cooperate with the Australian mining company Clean TeQ Sunrise Pty Ltd (Clean TeQ), for which we are designing a section for sorption extraction of nickel, cobalt and scandium from the pulp,» told about the practical results of the conference Alexey Shemetov, Director General of VNIPIpromtechnologii, JSC.

The conference participants recognized the unique technology of deep disposal of industrial wastewater, developed by VNIPIpromtechnologii, JSC as the most important for modern production. Its essence is the arrangement of storage facilities at a depth of 200 to 1650 m in subsoil areas with a special geological environment capable of storing hazardous substances until complete decomposition. In this case, the waste does not harm either the environment or human health. The technology, in particular, is already being used at the Chepetsky Mechanical Plant, the Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Plant, Bashkir Soda Company, JSC, etc. At the request of Bashkir Soda Company, the possibility of extending the service life of the existing storage facility and increasing its volume was justified, and the territory was also remediated. The Engineering Center tested the technology in the Ulyanovsk and Orel regions at agricultural processing plants where environmentally hazardous industrial wastewater is generated. An analysis of the geological structure of the subsoil areas promising in terms of the well drilling has already been carried out for the projects. It was VNIPIpromtechnologii, JSC that developed design and estimate documentation for the arrangement and construction of an underground research laboratory in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The developments of scientists contributed to twofold decrease of the impact on the environment.

The outcome of the conference was a resolution on sending proposals to the Committees on Ecology and Natural Resources of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on organizing the development of regulatory documents on the use of deep subsurface sites to accommodate industrial waste and industrial wastewater.