ARMZ will be able to mine zinc and lead on Novaya Zemlya

Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ), a mining company controlled by Rosatom, is soon planning to start producing concentrate from mined lead and zinc on the southern island of Novaya Zemlya, which is best known around the world as the site where the Soviet Union activated seven underground nuclear explosions.

Novaya Zemlya, located in the Russian Arctic, was previously considered one of the classified places in the world, but in the near future, it may become known as the largest source of minerals. The archipelago, which is almost 900 km long, has been under the control of the military since 1945, and civilians and any civilian companies were not allowed access to its territory for the purpose of exploring the surrounding area.

For many years, no company was able to obtain a permit to explore for minerals in the area. But the First Mining Company received a license to prospect for zinc and lead on the southern island of Novaya Zemlya back in 2000, but could not start development due to the nearby facilities of the Ministry of Defense. In May 2014, ARMZ received a permit for exploration and development of the Pavlovskoye field on Novaya Zemlya.

The Pavlovskoye deposit is considered one of the largest zinc and lead deposits in the world. The resources of the field are predicted to amount to 9.5 million tons. Atomredmetzoloto plans to start mining ore in 2019. The initial production capacity is expected to be 2.5 million tons. In addition, it is planned to receive concentrate locally and send it for further remelting to the mainland, where the Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant, the Spanish Glencore Extrata plant and the Swedish company Boliden are considered as partners.