Dalur, Russia’s most environmentally friendly uranium mining company, is celebrating its 20th anniversary

The celebration took place at the stadium of the «uranium capital» of Trans-Urals, the village of Uksyanskoye, near where the central production site of the enterprise is located. Families of Dalur employees from the Kurgan Region’s Dalmatovsky, Shumikhinsky, and Zverinogolovsky Districts gathered there. Employees of Rusburmash, JSC (a subsidiary of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co.), which conducts drilling operations in the fields, also came to congratulate their colleagues. The businesses only hire people from the surrounding area.

«In 20 years, Dalur has evolved into the best and most cost-effective company in the Mining Division. Without a single accident or occupational disease, the workforce has met and exceeded its production targets over the years. Continuous technological advancements have enabled to automate production processes and control all stages of uranium mining by utilizing software. I’d like to point out that many technological developments that are now widely used in the industry were introduced for the first time in the world at Dalur, JSC. There is no doubt that Dalur is a team of professionals, people who are accountable for the outcome, who face modern challenges with dignity and hope for the future,» said Vladimir Verkhovtsev, head of Rosatom’s Mining Division in a video greeting. Ilya Korolev, Deputy General Director of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co., read a congratulatory message from Rosatom Head Alexey Likhachev and presented awards to the company’s best employees. The merit badges for services to the nuclear industry and letters of commendation from ARMZ’s CEO were awarded to head of the geotechnological field and repair and recovery operations section Sergey Nikonov, chief mechanic Evgeny Nikulin, geotechnological wells operator Alexey Manichkin, hydrometallurgist Yury Falaleev, repair mechanic Vyacheslav Kopylov, head of production department Nikolay Lutsenko, underground well servicing operator Sergey Falaleev, deputy head of the Khokhlovskoye field site Nikolay Kiryanov and head of the near-rise base Yury Lepunov. Vladimir Arkhipov, the Kurgan Region’s Deputy Governor, stated: «Today, Trans-Urals supplies 20% of the strategic metal required by Russia’s nuclear industry. It is critical that the company runs smoothly and without incident or environmental damage. It is vital that Rosatom’s Mining Division makes significant contributions to the regional budget and implements social and charitable programs. Our collaboration aims to improve the quality of life for the residents of the region.» Fyodor Yaroslavtsev, deputy of the Kurgan Regional Duma, heads of Trans-Ural municipalities, and other guests also expressed their congratulations to the Dalur residents. They presented letters of appreciation to Dalur, JSC employees, emphasizing the company’s low environmental impact and significant contribution to the development of the areas in which it operates.

Indeed, Dalur, JSC pays more than RUB 500 mln in taxes each year, with more than RUB 200 mln going to regional and local budgets. Annual social expenditure is approximately RUB 25 mln, and charitable giving is approximately RUB 10 mln. Furthermore, the company is involved in national projects. As part of the Education national project, more than RUB 30 mln have been allocated for the construction of a new school in the village of Uksyanskoye, as well as the establishment of a specialized Dalur class there. With company funding, the Point of Growth, a center for digital and humanities profiles, opened in Trudovo school in Zverinogolovsky District in 2019. Dalur allocated RUB 14 mln last year to repair kindergarten No. 12 and secondary school No. 9 in Shumikha. The company will spend approximately RUB 3 mln in 2021 to repair the Trudovo secondary school. A gym was built in the village of Uksyanskoye as part of the Health national project for the company’s employees and local residents. The school purchased weightlifting, boxing, gymnastics, football, and volleyball machines and equipment. Dalur, JSC sponsors eight inter-regional sports competitions each year.

On the eve of the anniversary, the Dalur Board of Directors appointed Dinis Ezhurov as the company’s general director. He was the chief engineer at Dalur, JSC for four years before becoming the general director of Rusburmash, JSC. Dinis Ezhurov congratulated his coworkers, saying: «Over the years, Dalur has really become home to our close-knit team. This is evidenced by the fact that staff turnover here is the lowest in the Kurgan Region and one of the lowest in the Mining Division. I promise that we will continue to maintain the high level of wages and expand the social package, because our workforce deserves it».

In an interview with the media, the general director of Dalur, JSC spoke about the company’s prospects for further development: «Currently, the bulk of the strategic metal in the Trans-Urals is mined at the Dalmatovskoye field. The region’s uranium mining center has now begun to move to Shumikha, and the Khokhlovskoye field will be operating at full capacity by 2022. At the same time, we plan to carry out pilot works at the Dobrovolnoye field in the Zverinogolovsky District. We are now completing the construction of a railroad base on the outskirts of Shumikha, in the immediate vicinity of the Central Deposit of the Khokhlovskoye field. The site includes a warehouse, access railways, an internal road, etc. A railbase will make transport cheaper to the Khokhlovskoye and then to the Dobrovolnoye fields. In the long term, up to 350 jobs will be created in the Shumikhinsky and Zverinogolovsky Districts».

The festive atmosphere was created by the Sotsvetie dance ensemble, the folk groups Experiment and Quantum, the exemplary circus group Raduga and others. Stanislav Shubin, Honored Artist of Russia, performed a new «Dalur Song» of his own composition. Entertainment areas for children were developed. The celebration ended with a huge fireworks display.