Far East division of Ruschem to produce compound needed in oil, gas production

VLADIVOSTOK. Aug 12 (Interfax) - Dalnegorsky Mine and Processing Plant LLC (Dalnegorsky GOK), a division of Ruschem Group in Primorye and Russia's only producer of boron products from its own mineral resources, is adding calcium borate to its product line, the company said.

Calcium borate is a compound needed in production of materials in various areas of industry, including oil and gas production.

"Work on launching calcium borate will consist of several stages. First it is necessary to carry out repairs and update the production line in the boron products shop, as well as increase staff. At the moment, the staff needs for the new department amount to 70 people," Dalnegorsky GOK chief engineer Yury Mashentsev said in the press release.

It was reported earlier that the plant produced 51,600 tonnes of boron products in the first half of 2024, but it only produced boric acid in this period.

Dalnegorsky GOK began modernizing its facilities at the start of the year. It shut down on August 5 for scheduled maintenance that will continue until August 29.

The company plans to spend about 14.5 billion rubles on modernization in the period from 2025 to 2028, according to a cooperation agreement Ruschem (formerly Russian Hydrogen) CEO Eduard Davydov signed with Primorye Governor Oleg Kozhemyako at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June.

The Dalnegorskoye borosilicate deposit holds about 3% of the world's boron reserves. The eponymous mine and plant have fully integrated production, from mining ore to processing and synthesis of boron products such as boric acid, calcium borate, boric anhydride and datolite concentrate.

Ruschem also includes the Bashkir Soda Company in Sterlitamak, Berezniki Soda Plant , Donbiotech and a number of businesses in southern Russia.