Mechel OAO, one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announced the commissioning of a seasonal washing plant and production of the first volumes of concentrate of coking coal mined at the Elga deposit.

After the commissioning of the full processing cycle at the washing plant first volumes of the coking coal concentrate were produced. The launch of the washing plant at Elga was possible after much hard work requiring a number of complex solutions aimed at dealing with logistical and construction challenges. The newly built washing plant fully complies with best international standards. The technological process is fully computerized and is managed out of a central console, allowing for control of all processing systems in a real-time mode. The plant’s processing capacity is up to 3 million tonnes per annum. The CAPEX is approx. 2 billion rubles (about US$64.7 million).

"The launch of seasonal washing plant has become an important milestone in the implementation of the project of unique significance -- the development of the Elga coal deposit, one of the largest coking coal deposits in the world. Following the completion of railway connecting the deposit with Baikal-Amur Mainline the launch of washing facilities allows to mine and process coal at Elga open-pit on production scale and start receiving benefits from vast investment in the project development," said Igor Zyuzin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mechel OAO.