Kazakhstan iron ore mining company Sokolov-Sarbai Mining Production Association JSC (SSGPO) which is part of Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a leading diversified natural resources producer headquartered in Luxembourg, has completed the first stage of pilot tests of a MGS-2.0 magnetic gravity separator. This has enabled the company, which is a leading supplier of iron ore products in the CIS region, to  increase the iron content in the concentrate it produces, thus responding to stronger market demand.

The MGS-2.0 magnetic-gravity separator, which was manufactured by St Petersburg headquartered Energocomplekt JSC, is being trialled at technological section No 13 of SSGPO’s enrichment section. The technology enables the separation of mineral suspensions containing highly magnetic fine particles. This takes place under the influence of a weak magnetic field and a centrifugal-ascending water flow in special magnetic-gravity separators.

Serik Shakhazhanov, Chairman of the Management Board, Eurasian Group LLP, which operates ERG’s assets in Kazakhstan, stated: “We are always looking at how technological solutions can be applied to enhance our operations, from modernising our manufacturing process to introducing operational efficiency programmes. The magnetic-gravity separator at SSGPO has yielded positive results, and we look forward to further rolling out this technology to increase the iron ore content in our products.”

SSGPO intends to continue the pilot testing of the MGS-2.0 separator. Over the next two years, in cooperation with the Mining Institute of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the company is set to complete the research required. In the future, a modernisation project will be developed which will be implemented during a major overhaul of one of the technological sections.