11th Russian Mining Excellence Awards
The finalists and the winners of the 11th Russian Mining Excellence Award competition were presented on 12 October 2017 at the Gala Dinner of the MINEX Russia 2017 Forum.
Established in 2007 by MINEX Russia Forum The Russian Mining Excellence Award has become a “Russian Mining Oscar”. The award committee allocate high status to companies that have achieved the best results in the most important types of mining activities in the period between the annual forums.
[tab:Winners]
Polyus Gold became a winner in the nomination “Exploration project of the year”. In 2016, the company approved reserves of the Olympiadninsky deposit of more than 1,000 tons at the State Reserves Committee. Olympiadninsky is the largest gold deposit being developed in the Russian Federation.
Vysochaishy (GV Gold) became the winner in the nomination “Mining Project of the Year”. The company launched Taryn Ore Mining and Processing Plant in September 2017 – the largest mining enterprise in Oymyakon, a key asset of the GV Gold in Yakutia. The ceremony of putting the plant into operation took place during the Eastern Economic Forum 2017 in presence of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chairman of the Board of Directors Vysochaishy (GV Gold) Sergei Dokuchaev. The design capacity of the plant is 700,000 tons of ore per year, the planned production volume is up to 3 tons (97,000 ounces) of gold per year. The company plans to produce about 1 ton (32 thousand ounces) of gold by the end of 2017.
In the nomination “Personnel Project of the Year”, the winner was the joint project of the Siberian Federal University and Norilsk Nickel – the creation of the R&D centre. The University solves the educational tasks, releasing a new formation of the mining and metallurgical specialists and conducting the training of employees of Norilsk Nickel. The studies and research of the graduates are being introduced to the industry, improving the quality control systems for mining and processing of mineral raw materials.
The nomination “Socially Responsible Company of the Year” has been won by Russian Copper Company, which in 2016 and 2017 implemented a number of projects to improve life standards in its operation areas. In the Chelyabinsk region, the company held “The Strongest Schoolchild” contest – a large-scale series of competitions in multiathlon among children of primary school age. For two years, 7,500 children from the region participated in this contest. In 2017, the Russian Copper Company created 16 sport training facilities and parks in Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions. Around 40 million roubles (approximately 700 000 USD) have been allocated for the project. In addition, in 2017, the company built a multifunctional sports complex Metallurg worth more than 220 million roubles (approx. 4 mln USD) in the city of Karabash in Chelyabinsk region.
Polymetal International won the in the nomination “Technology of the Year”. The company began using MUCMASTER-600EB – the loading and transporting machines with a battery drive – at the Mayskoye deposit to reduce heating and air pollution in underground mines. As a result, air does not heat up, costs for cleaning it from exhaust gases are reduced, electricity is saved, and mining becomes safer, as the risk of ice melting in cracks and the destruction of mines is reduced.
In the nomination “Environmental Project of the Year”, the winner was Kinross Gold. In 2016-2017, the company achieved a more economical (by 30%) utilisation of tailing dumps. Within the framework of this project, the volumes of enrichment tailings were significantly reduced due to thickening and subsequent dry storage, the flow of water not related to enrichment processes was excluded, the use of recycled water was increased, which reduced the consumption of fresh water by 85%. All these technics allow saving about 1.5 million cubic meters of useful volume of tailing dumps every year.
In the nomination “Investment Project of the Year”, the winner was the company Metalloinvest, which launched the third complex of hot briquetted iron production at the Lebedinsky Mining and Processing Combine with a production capacity of 1.8 million tons of briquettes per year.
The total capacity of the company for HBI production is at least 4.5 million tons per year. Investments in the project amounted to about $ 660 million. New technologies for gas cleaning at the repartition of pelleting are being introduced and energy efficiency indicators for pellet firing have been improved.
The Legend of the Year became Vladimir Dolgikh, a metallurgical engineer, former director of the Norilsk Metallurgical Combine, twice Hero of Socialist Labour, Doctor of Technical Sciences, statesman.
[tab:About]
The Russian mining industry has much to be proud of and deserves greater recognition for its contribution to the country’s economic growth, jobs creation and development of best practices in responsible management of planet’s largest wealth of natural resources. MINEX Russian Mining Excellence Award was established by the MINEX Russia Forum in 2007 with the aim of recognising and rewarding excellence in the Russian mining and geological industries.
Established in 2007 by MINEX Russia Forum The Russian Mining Excellence Award has become a “Russian Mining Oscar”. The award’s unbiased independent awards committee consisting of the group of seasoned mining professionals helps to access proposed nominations and determine the outstanding achievements and projects. Participation in the Awards nominations is FREE and open to Russian and International companies.
The Award finalists and winners will be announced at the Russian Mining Excellence Awards Gala Dinner on 12 October in Moscow. All finalists will receive diplomas. The winners will also receive handmade bronze sculpture of a Miner set on the semiprecious stone plinth and metal plated plaque.
[tab:Nominations]
Nomination categories of the 11th Russian Mining Excellence Awards
1. NOMINATION – “EXPLORER OF THE YEAR”
Award description: For achievements in mineral exploration in Russia.
Nominee: A company or organisation.
Evaluation criteria: Achievements that have helped to expand mineral resources and substantially boost reserves in the period between current and previous MINEX Russia Forums, including the discovery of new fields, a significant increase in reserves of previously discovered fields.
2. NOMINATION – “MINING PROJECT OF THE YEAR”
Award description: For the successful implementation of a mining project in Russia.
Nominee: A company or organisation.
Evaluation criteria: Successful (large scale and effective) implementation of a mining or mineral/metals processing project in Russia in the period between current and previous MINEX Russia forums.
3. NOMINATION – “INVESTOR OF THE YEAR”
Award description: For successful bringing in investments to the Russian mining industry.
Nominee: A company or organisation (banks, funds, investment companies which finance mining exploration and production projects, as well as mining companies which participate in M&A deals in Russia).
Evaluation criteria: Large-scale financing of third party mining projects (that were not earlier owned by the company) and effective organisation of investment financing of a major project at an early stage and/or in a high risk environment. The valuation takes also into account total investments raised/provided between current and previous MINEX Russia forums.
4. NOMINATION – “HR PROJECT OF THE YEAR”
Award description: For the successful implementation of a professional development, education and/or training project in the Russian mining industry.
Eligible nominee: A company or an organisation (mining, exploration and service companies, and higher educational institutions).
Evaluation criteria: Implementation of a project related to professional/advanced development, education and/or training of mining personnel between current and previous MINEX Russia Forums that led to significant improvements in the professional and qualification levels of company staff and university graduates.
5. SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Award description: For the implementation of projects in the mining sector which have greatly improved relationships between companies and local communities, significant commitments to community, building a solid workplace for people and honest governance.
Eligible nominee: A company or an organisation (mining, exploration and service companies).
Evaluation criteria: Realisation of the project in the Russian mining industry between current and previous MINEX Russia forums in the development and implementation of outstanding practices in Socially Responsible Mining.
– information openness and transparency;
– development of benchmark social policies in the mining sector;
– implementation of charitable and sponsorship programs.
6. NOMINATION – “TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR”
Award description: For the introduction of breakthrough technological solutions in the Russian mining industry.
Eligible nominee: A company or an organisation
Evaluation criteria: The introduction of new technical and technological solutions in the Russian mining industry between current and previous MINEX Russia Forums. Nominations may be awarded to two companies – a service company (developer) and mining company (implementer).
7. NOMINATION – “MINING LEGEND” *
Description: For a major personal contribution to the development of the Russia’s mining and geological industry.
Eligible nominee: Managers, scientists and employees of companies, organisations and government agencies.
Evaluation criteria: Exceptional and widely recognised personal contribution to the development of the mining and geological industry in Russia/CIS.
* Due to a sensitive nature of this Award category the nomination is determined by the Awards Committee’s private vote
8. NOMINATION – “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR” (2017 in Russia is dedicated to introduction of best Environmental solutions and Ecology preservation practices)
Award description: For the successful implementation of project in the mining industry which made significant positive impact on the development of management systems and society (description given in the evaluation criteria).
Eligible nominee: A company or an organisation
Evaluation criteria: Successful implementation of the project in the Russian mining industry between current and previous MINEX Russia Forums in the field of social responsibility, including:
– Environmental and industrial safety;
– Information openness and transparency;
– Impact on the development of social policy and structure of the region;
– The implementation of charitable and sponsorship programs.
[tab:Timeline]
| 01.07 – 15.08.2017 | Submission of nomination applications |
| 01.07 – 01.09.2017 | Submission of additional information requested by the Awards Committee |
| 01.09 – 15.09.2017 | Selection of the nominees |
| 18.09 – 22.09.2017 | Internet vote |
| 25.09 – 29.09.2017 | Evaluation |
| 12.10.2017 | Awards ceremony at the Gala Dinner of MINEX Russia 2017 Mining & Exploration Forum |
| 13.10.2017 | Announcement of the winners on the MINEX Russia 2017 website and news releases. |
[tab:Terms]
- Submit proposal for the nomination of a company or project before 1 September 2017.
- Applications are accepted from Russian and foreign companies, government representatives and executives.
- Company or project can be proposed for the nomination in no more than 3 categories.
- To maintain the high professional level of the awards The MINEX Awards Committee reserves the right to accept or reject applications which do not meet the Awards criteria.
- Once the application has been accepted, the applicant will be required to submit accompanying information (when required). Additional materials (rationale for nominating the project for obtaining Awards, up to 5 pages) must be submitted no later than the 10th of September 2017.
- Finalist it the Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 will be announced on 15 September 2017 on MINEX Russia Forum website and internet poll will commence soon after. Winner in the Category 7 will be selected by the Award Committee and announced on 12 October 2017.
- The Award finalists and winners will be announced at the Russian Mining Excellence Awards Gala Dinner on 12 October in Moscow. All finalists will receive diplomas. The award winners will also receive handmade bronze sculpture of Miner set on the semiprecious stone plinth and metal plated plaque.
- Award finalists and winners will be invited for the award group photo and awards interviews recorded for MINEX TV (internet video recordings of the forum highlights).
[tab:2017 Awards Committee]
| Julia Boiko | Expert, Head of Mining Award Comitee 2017 |
| Boris Yatsenko | Partner, Head of the Metals & Mining Group in Russia and CIS, EY |
| Andrey Tverdov | Technical Director, IMC Montan |
| Roman Shchetinskiy | Head of Prospective Development Department, GV Gold |
| Aleksandr Lopatnikov | Managing Director, Russia, American Appraisal |
| Mikhail Leskov | Director for Mining and Metals, American Appraisal |
| Stanislav Borodyuk | Director, PR & PA, Kinross |
| Vadim Petrov | Vixe-Rector, MSMU-MISIS |
| Alexey Lazarev | Deputy Head of Metals Department, GKZ |
| Mikhail Sivkov | Director, SRK Consultung |
| Pavel Spitsyn | Sales-trader, Sberbank CIB |
[tab:Winners 2016]
Explorer of the Year – Polymetal International
Polymetal International won the Explorer Of The Year nomination with their Viksha project (9,5 million ounces of palladium).
Notable finalists in the nomination were Highland Gold with their Kekura project (2.7 million ounces of gold).
Mining Project of the Year – Gold of Kamchatka
The nomination Mining Project of the Year has been contested between the gold factory at the Ryabinovoye deposit in Yakutia currently being built by the Seligdar PJSC and Zoloto Kamchatki JSC with their Ametistovoe processing plant aimed to produce 4 tons of gold a year.
Gold of Kamchatka emerged as the winner in the nomination.
Investor of the Year – Norilsk Nickel
The final at the Investor of the Year nomination saw Seligdar’s Ryabinovskoye mill compete with Polymetal International Plc with who produced their first gold at the Svetloye deposit 9 months ahead of schedule.
The third finalist the Bystrinsky processing plant built in Chita by Norilsk Nickel ended up winning the nomination.
Sustainable development project of the year – Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company
The Sustainable development project of the year award has been a contest between Sibenergougol who created a monument of nature at the Kostenki cliffs, Polymetal International Plc with their charity photography competition that helped raise money for a girl who was diagnosed with epidermolysis bullosa and Kinross Gold Corporation who organized an ecology monitoring training program at their Kupol and Dvojnoj mines. Last but not least, Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company, who adapted the practice of transferring their land to the Karakansky nature reserve to preserve biodiversity which won them the trophy in the nomination.
HR Project of the Year – SUEK
The HR Project of the Year award was taken home by the Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK) who developed the Mining School summer camp and youth learning program. Other finalists in the nomination were Polymetal International Plc who implemented a geological and management skills remote training program and Kinross Gold Corporation, who launched the Executive Director School training program for managers.
Technology of the Year – Norilsk Nickel, OOO “Summa technology” and UralTehIs
In the nomination Technology Of The Year, the final saw Polymetal International Plc who developed a Unitarian corporate risk management system based on geomechanical modelling compete with Kinross Gold Corporation who came up with an innovative tail filtration system. The winners in the nomination were Norilsk Nickel, OOO “Summa technology” and UralTehIs (who were nominated together as part of one project) who used innovative industry 4.0 location systems to solve logistical challenges.
Mining Legend – Mikhail Shumilin
Mikhail Shumilin, doctor of geological-mineralogical sciences, professor)was named the winner in the “Mining Legend ” category for his scientific achievements -in the field of uranium geology .
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