The Mezhyrichensky Mining and Processing Plant has resumed operations of its beneficiation plant after a period of downtime.

LLC "Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant," part of the titanium business Group DF, has launched operations at its beneficiation plant for the production of ilmenite concentrate (TiO2).

This was reported by the press service of Group DF.

"The team has managed to restore the operational capacity of the enterprise; the beneficiation plant has been restarted after a downtime. We have regained lost markets and business relationships with partners: we have already signed substantial contracts with European partners and are working on their fulfillment. Additionally, we are rebuilding the team," noted the director of Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant, Dmytro Holik.

It is noted that the resumption of the beneficiation plant's operations occurred thanks to significant support from local government authorities and local self-government. The launch enabled the engagement of 100% of the staff and the restoration of previous salary levels. Approximately 400 employees work at Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant, including 50 who serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant remains a city-forming enterprise for two settlements in the Zhytomyr region (the town of Irshansk, Nova Borova, and the corresponding communities).

According to the report, in 2023, Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant extracted only 500 thousand tons of ilmenite ore and produced 22.1 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate. As of the results for 2024 (January – February), the extraction amounted to 520 thousand tons of ilmenite ore. The production capacity of Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant is 4 million tons of ilmenite ore per year and 180 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.

"Our strategic plans include returning to pre-war production capacities, but everything will depend on the global price situation. The European economy is recovering, and we expect an increase in the consumption of ilmenite concentrate. Positive signals are now emerging for global players; after the war, the world market will exit recession faster in 2025–2026 and will grow more rapidly. This will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our business," emphasized Holik.

Reminder: Group DF invested over $7 million in the beneficiation plant at Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant from 2017 to 2019, and the plant was commissioned at the beginning of 2019.

Reference.

Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant consists of two complexes – the extraction of ilmenite ore / production of crude concentrate and the beneficiation plant that produces ilmenite concentrate. The enterprise produces its main product – titanium dioxide (sulfate ilmenite concentrate) and operates exclusively in the chemical titanium segment, the products of which cannot be used in the military-industrial complex due to their chemical properties. This is a raw material for the production of pigments used in the paint industry, paper manufacturing, plastics, and construction materials.

Group DF is a diversified international group of companies whose business is represented in several countries across Europe and Asia. In particular, Group DF invests in the chemical, titanium, media, and port sectors. The founder and owner of Group DF is Ukrainian philanthropist and businessman Dmytro Firtash. During the full-scale war, Group DF's businesses, including the titanium sector, provided cumulative assistance to Ukraine amounting to 1.317 billion UAH.

Background. Previously, Mind reported that the State Geological Service returned the license to Firtash's plant for extracting titanium ore in the Zhytomyr region. The service made this decision regarding LLC "Mezhirichensky Mining and Processing Plant" in accordance with court rulings.