Ruslan Magamedovich, tell us, what were the initial conditions for Sovrudnik? The company was not born from scratch?
Ruslan Kurbanov: “Our company has achieved impressive results in its development. And the main credit for achieving them belongs to our team.” Photo: Sovrudnik LLC Press Service
– The history of our company began in the harsh winter conditions of 1998-1999. Then the team of the newly formed Sovrudnik LLC was able to solve the problem of restoring the production line and resuming production at the Sovetskaya gold mill facility. The start-up of the factory was preceded by a year of total stoppage of production and loss of the raw material base. After all, the mine at the Sovetskoye depot was flooded. The predecessor of Sovrudnik LLC, Zoloto JSC, could not survive in the elements of the market economy of the 90s. And only thanks to the cohesion and dedication of the team, it was possible to avoid looting of production assets and leave possibilities for restoring production. Under such conditions, at that time, hardly anyone could have imagined that in the next 25 years more than 80 tons of gold would be mined, and the volume of the increase in reserves would many times exceed the volume of their redemption. In our development we have gone through stages of revival, formation and today we are on the path of sustainable development.
Do you have production guidelines?
– The maximum volumes of gold extraction of our predecessors were reached in 1994, at that time still by the Soviet mine of the state trust “Yeniseizoloto”. So it was 2470 kilograms. By systematically developing production, today we are more than doubling that record with stable annual volumes of gold extraction. Over the years, the main production assets of the Sovetskaya gold mining plant have been almost completely upgraded, high gold recovery rates have been achieved under the conditions of joint processing of ores from different deposits. Two gold processing plant tailings were built, mastered gold production using heap leach technology at the Eldorado deposit. In order to ensure the increasing mineral preparation production capacity, the volume of mining operations increased year by year. By 2023, the total productivity of mining operations reached 25 million cubic meters, making it possible to extract up to five million tons of gold ore per year and produce more than five tons of gold.
At the same time, it was possible to solve the most complex problems of the provision of the resource base. LLC “Sovrudnik” created its own exploration service. We have learned from zero level to search for and explore for gold, calculate and put reserves on the state balance sheet, design and commission open pits in new deposits: Uspensky veins, Dobroe, Sovetskoye northwestern flank, Udarnoye, Aleksandro-Ageevskoye deposits, Ishmurat, Zolotoe. Excellent results have been achieved as a result of further exploration of our flagship, the Eldorado field. Licenses for the use of the subsoil of the Vysokoye and Pervenets deposits were obtained. As a result, the company, even taking into account the implementation of plans for the expansion of production, has a raw material base for more than 30 years of operation, which meets the best standards in the industry.
A few years ago, Sovrudnik LLC became part of the Yuzhuralzoloto group. What did this step take?
– The pace of development of Sovrudnik LLC gained in recent years is precisely the result of the synergy of the experience and traditions of Northern Yenisei gold miners and the strategic vision, competencies and resource capabilities of one of the leaders in the Russian gold mining industry. – the YuGK group of companies. When Sovrudnik LLC became part of the YuGK group of companies in 2015, this allowed the company to reach a fundamentally new level of technology and production culture. Today we are developing one of the largest gold deposits in the Krasnoyarsk Territory – Vysokoye, building a mining and processing plant with a full technological cycle of gold production, and starting to design the Eldorado gold recovery plant.
What is the basis of these plans?
– For its implementation, the relevant competencies have been developed: a special department for capital construction has been created, and assembly and construction sites have been organized. In this area, we currently employ more than 500 company employees, the production of building materials, reinforced concrete products, metal structures has been established, the design and technical documentation necessary for construction is being developed, and the carry out technical supervision. outside.
Social responsibility is what every big company has to demonstrate nowadays, among which, of course, Sovrudnik is one of them.
– Our successful activity allows us to make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the region. The volume of tax payments to budgets of different levels constantly exceeds four billion rubles. And as the company develops, they tend to grow. The company actively participates in programs for the improvement of settlements in the Severo-Yenisei region and provides assistance in the maintenance of road infrastructure. Through the communication lines of Sovrudnik LLC, the regional center has high-speed Internet. As part of the dilapidated housing resettlement program, Sovrudnik LLC built and put into operation more than 15,000 square meters of comfortable housing in the district. During the difficult period of the Covid 19 pandemic, high-tech medical equipment was purchased for the central district hospital.
LLC “Sovrudnik”, implementing a regional investment project under the auspices of KIP “Yenisei Siberia”, provides financing for regional programs and the creation of additional jobs. And these are not just big words. For many years, our company has been carrying out social and social activities. We believe that charity and sponsorship should be an integral part of the corporate philosophy of modern companies.
What projects do you currently have in your portfolio?
– For several years, the company has provided financing to the municipality. For example, children living in the Severo-Yenisei region were able to visit Belarus in the summer of 2022, and we purchased two modern dental units for the Severo-Yenisei Central District Hospital. In addition, as part of the donation and social collaboration, funds were allocated and assistance was provided in the construction of art objects in Severo-Yeniseisk. The art objects “Sports Yard” and the alley of Love fit harmoniously into the architecture of the village. They are now popular with area residents and their guests. And for the 90th anniversary of the Severo-Yenisei region, the company presented the municipality with Lila Square.
“Sovrudnik” cares not only about the improvement of the area, but also takes part in actions aimed at the cultural development of the population. For example, we helped in the grand opening of the Central Regional Library named after MA Bulgakov. The company provides support and assistance in holding community events, parties, festivals, fairs. It is no coincidence that our company, on the basis of the recommendation of the government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, was included in the Federal Register “All-Russian Honor Book” last year.
Living conditions in the Severo-Yenisei region are not easy. How do you support your employees?
– Sovrudnik every year sends the children of the company’s employees to the FGBOU “International Children’s Center “Artek”. We pay considerable attention to the promotion and development of a healthy lifestyle and sports both in the public and in the corporate environment holding various tournaments has become a good tradition for us, because a healthy lifestyle and good physical condition of employees is a condition for the development and successful operation of production.
Life is important, of course. Currently, the company employs more than three thousand people. These are both local and shift workers. We try to make them as comfortable as possible. Hostels have been built that meet all modern technical requirements, with cozy rooms and comfortable furniture, with rest areas and spacious dining rooms. Sovrudnik LLC, by the way, annually participates in the competition for the improvement of the territories of enterprises located in the Northern Yenisei region, and always takes first place there.
Your professional holidays are approaching. What thoughts visit you on the eve of the celebration?
– Our company has achieved impressive results in its development. And the main credit for achieving them belongs to our team. Labor, professional skills, the nature of our employees allowed us to maintain production in the late 90s. Then, without stopping it and losing production volumes, carry out a deep reconstruction in the 2000s. We managed to search and find new deposits in the harsh remote conditions of the north, build bridges, roads, power lines, create infrastructure for further development. For us, the main gold is our people. The results and results obtained in the last 25 years are a solid foundation to continue our sustainable development. I congratulate the Sovrudnik team and the Yuzhuralzoloto group of companies on our professional holiday! •
