Northern Mining and Processing Plant, a part of Metinvest Group, has completed a significant equipment modernization at its pelletizing shop No. 2. The update, which included the modernization of the LURGI 552A roasting machine and a two-deck roller screen for raw pellets, is expected to improve the plant’s productivity, according to a Metinvest Media press release.
The two-deck roller screen plays a crucial role in filtering raw pellets by separating the smallest class, which are then returned to the cup pelletizer. In the first phase of the modernization, completed last year, an upper deck was installed to better screen coarse fines, and the rollers were replaced with more efficient designs. This initial upgrade increased the average hourly productivity of the roasting machine from 460 to 463 tons.
In April 2025, during a quarterly overhaul, the lower screen deck was further upgraded. The original 25 rollers, each with a 150 mm diameter, were replaced with 41 smaller rollers, each measuring 89 mm in diameter. This change improved the screening of the 0-9 mm fraction by 30%, boosting the machine’s productivity to 465 tons per hour.
Andriy Stebliy, Deputy Head of Production and Planning, commented, “This upgrade not only increases productivity but also reduces energy consumption. Gas usage has been reduced by 100 cubic meters per hour, and electricity consumption has dropped by 150 kWh. This will save the plant nearly UAH 4 million annually.”
Since the loss of its steel assets in Mariupol due to the ongoing conflict, Northern Mining has shifted its focus to producing unfluxed pellets, which are in high demand across Europe. The newly modernized equipment supports the production of high-quality pellets for European markets, as well as for local customers such as Zaporizhstal and Kametstal.
Additionally, Northern Mining plans to invest over UAH 62.5 million in 2025 to further modernize the equipment at its Mining Transportation Shop No. 1 (MTS-1). The shop is currently operating at its maximum capacity of 37-38 dump trucks per shift, which is consistent with pre-war levels, as reported by GMK Center.
