EuroChem spends 2.6 bln rubles on Belaz trucks for Kovdor mine

MURMANSK. Jan 13 (Interfax) - JSC Kovdorsky GOK, a division of EuroChem will receive ten Belaz dump trucks with capacity of 220 tonnes this year, the Russian fertilizer producer said.

"EuroChem invested more than 2.6 billion rubles in the acquisition of the new vehicles," which will be used for removing overburden, the company said.

The first four trucks have already been delivered to the Kovdor mine and processing plant. They are now being assembled and tested and will go into operation by the end of January, and another six will be assembled and put into operation in the first half of the year, EuroChem said. Kovdorsky GOK is the only company in Murmansk Region that uses mine dump trucks with capacity of 220 and 240 tonnes.

Kovdorsky GOK earlier received ten dump trucks with capacity of 136 tonnes and put them into operation.

"The new dump trucks are on par with well-known imported analogs in terms of technical characteristics. Experimental engines will enable us to gain new repair and operating experience," Kovdorsky GOK executive director Oleg Mikhailov was quoted as saying. EuroChem said the Belaz-7530H trucks have engines from China's Weichai.

The mine is updating its fleet of heavy duty machinery as part of a program to increase production.

Kovdorsky GOK, the largest enterprise in Murmansk Region's Kovdor district, produces iron ore, apatite and baddeleyite concentrate. EuroChem is one of the largest producers of mineral fertilizer in the world.