The territory of the Kola Peninsula is replete with beautiful landscapes of pristine beauty. Here are two large reserves - Pasvik and Lapland State Nature Reserve, created to preserve populations of waterfowl and reindeer.
However, ironically, these paradises, untouched by human civilization, are closely adjacent to one of the largest industrial giants of Russia - the Kola MMC. At a distance of less than 20 kilometers from the virgin forests, chimneys of factories smoke and 13 thousand people work tirelessly, turning the wealth of the earth's bowels into valuable metals.
A bit of history
The Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company is a fairly young enterprise. It was founded in 1998 on the basis of the Pechenganickel and Severonickel metal plants. These plants have a longer history - Severonickel began its work in the year the Second World War began. From that moment, the activity of Pechenganickel begins, which at that time was in Finland and became part of the territory of the Soviet Union at the end of the war.
During perestroika and the 90s, metal plants fell into decay - production declined, and debts to employees and the state grew. Not far off was already bankruptcy and a complete halt of enterprises, which threatened a social catastrophe for the entire Murmansk region.
Since the factories themselves could not receive any subsidies because of debts, the management of Norilsk Nickel, of which they were part, decided to establish a new company on their basis to attract investments. So in 1998, Kola MMC appeared, led by Evgeny Romanov, a former vice president of ONEXIM Bank, which owned Norilsk Nickel shares.
In the first five years of its existence, the company has achieved significant success. She took the lead among the majority of industrial facilities in the Murmansk region, and began to compete with leading world manufacturers. Kola MMC successfully holds these positions to this day.
Production of the company
The Kola Peninsula is a real cornucopia in terms of minerals. There are almost a thousand species of minerals alone. A lot of valuable metals, including rare earth elements and platinum.
The share of Kola MMC in the production of cobalt and nickel is almost 40% of the total Norilsk Nickel. The company produces precious metal concentrates, electrolyte copper, sulfuric acid and much more. Quality products fully meet both Russian and international criteria.
Production capacity
The objects of the Kola MMC are located in three settlements - Nickel, Zapolyarny and Monchegorsk - play the role of city-forming. For example, in Monchegorsk, one out of every six residents of working age works at the plant.
The mining capacities of the company are concentrated in Zapolyarny and the village of Nikel, located 30 km from it. There are two mines, an enrichment plant and a smelter. Manufacturing - metallurgical and electrolysis shops, refining sites - is located in Monchegorsk.
Company prospects
Due to the recent closure of the Norilsk refinery, the entire volume of nickel produced was concentrated at the Kola MMC site in Monchegorsk, turning it into the world's largest center for the production of this valuable metal.
This required a radical reconstruction and modernization of production, which cost 25 billion rubles, but the result was achieved. Now the company is completing the introduction of the latest technology for nickel production by electroextraction, completion of work is planned for 2019.
The new technique will significantly reduce the amount of heavy manual labor and reduce production costs. Harmful atmospheric emissions after the start of a new production are also minimized, therefore, the plant will not pose a threat to neighboring reserves.