Timeline

Obtaining Rosgeolekspertiza Expert Approval No. 177-02-04/2018 dated 12 November 2018 for Geological Survey Including Exploration and Estimation of Potassium-Magnesium Salts at the East Talitsky Area of the Verkhnekamsk Deposit
Start of shaft freezing and subsequent sinking

Obtaining Rosgeolekspertiza Expert Approval No. 177-02-04/2018 dated 12 November 2018 for Geological Survey Including Exploration and Estimation of Potassium-Magnesium Salts at the East Talitsky Area of the Verkhnekamsk Deposit
Start of shaft freezing and subsequent sinking

VPC obtained a subsoil Licence ПЕМ 02683 ТП for geological study of subsoil resources of East Talitsky area of Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit.

VPC obtained a subsoil Licence ПЕМ 02683 ТП for geological study of subsoil resources of East Talitsky area of Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for Perm Krai approved VPC’s basic engineering design documentation Development of Ground Construction Materials Deposits “Talitsky  Open Pits 1 and 2” and “Talitsky Open Pit 3”.  The open pit mines will supply ground materials required for construction of the Talitsky mine surface facilities.

VPC received positive findings from the Russian state expert review board and the state environmental expert panel for construction of surface facilities at the Talitsky mine.

VPC received positive findings from the Russian state expert review board and the state environmental expert panel for construction of surface facilities at the Talitsky mine.

The Russian state expert review board gave VPC a positive finding for permanent gas supply infrastructure.

The Talitsky mining project received  Perm Krai priority investment project status.

SRK Consulting Limited completed its estimation of mineral resources and reserves at the Talitsky area under JORC standards (2012 JORC Code).

VPC updated licence PEM 15349 TE for subsoil use of the Talitsky area, extending its validity through 2053.

The Central Development Commission for Mineral Resources under the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use of the Russian Federation Ministry for Natural Resources and the Environment (Rosnedra) approved the technical project for development of sylvinite reserves at the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit.

The Central Development Commission for Mineral Resources under the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use of the Russian Federation Ministry for Natural Resources and the Environment (Rosnedra) approved the technical project for development of sylvinite reserves at the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit.

VPC obtained a positive finding from the Russian state expert review board for construction of the mine, rail infrastructure and permanent water and gas supply facilities.

VPC developed a detailed plan for extraction of sylvinite at the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit and submitted it for approval of the Federal Agency for Mineral Resources.

VPC developed a detailed plan for extraction of sylvinite at the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit and submitted it for approval of the Federal Agency for Mineral Resources.

VPC commissioned administrative building for the contractor, US-30, which is in charge of constructing temporary facilities for freezing and sinking of mine shafts.

VPC completed equipment assembly for the freezing station and cage shaft freezing facilities.

VPC obtained a licence for performance of work using officially classified information.

VPC and Belgorkhimprom agreed to terminate Contract No.40-11 dated 28 July 2011 for the development of design documents, specifications and estimates for construction and mining for the Talitsky mine.

VPC signed contract No. 2013/1-002 with Novgorodsky GIAP, an Acron subsidiary, for general design and development of design documentation for the beneficiation factory at the Talitsky mine.

VPC received a positive expert review for construction of the main substation.
VPC changed its legal address to 10 Gagarina Street, Berezkini, Perm Krai, 618419 Russia. With the start of production, the Company will make a significant contribution to the social and economic development of the region.

VPC received a positive expert review for construction of the main substation.

VPC changed its legal address to 10 Gagarina Street, Berezkini, Perm Krai, 618419 Russia. With the start of production, the Company will make a significant contribution to the social and economic development of the region.

Administrative facility for the Company's employees, worker houses and two dormitories were commissioned at the Talitsky mine construction site.

VPC and the Usolsky district administration signed a partnership agreement for 2013 to finance social projects in the field of education, science and culture.

The first issue of VPC Inform newspaper saw the light.

VPC completed drilling of freezing wells for cage and skip shafts.

Talitskaya-1 main substation was commissioned.

The Licence Terms for development of the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit were amended. Under the new terms, the mine shall be commissioned by 2021 and shall reach the design  capacity by 2023.

VPC was reorganized from a limited liability company to a closed joint stock company.
The Russian State Commission for Mineral Reserves (GKZ Rosnedra) issued a positive finding for the reserve valuation VPC performed at the Talitsky area.

VPC was reorganised as a Closed Joint Stock Company.

The Russian State Commission for Mineral Reserves (GKZ Rosnedra) issued a positive finding for the reserve valuation VPC performed at the Talitsky area.

Alexander Pupov was named Director General of CJSC Verkhnekamsk Potash Company.

Vnesheconombank, Eurasian Development Bank and Raiffeisenbank acquired a share in the capital of VPC. The funds raised will be used to finance construction.

VPC received a positive finding from Glavgosekspertiza for the first stage of construction of the Talitsky mine: construction of mine shafts. FGUP-30 was named the general contractor.

In October, the first cubic meter of concrete was poured at the base of a shaft mouth at the Talitsky mine.

In December, VPC signed a contract with THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU to drill freezing boreholes.

In 2011, development of the Talitsky mine construction project continued. The research institute Belgorkhimprom (Republic of Belarus) was named the project's general contractor. Belgorkhimprom has 30 years of experience in the field of mining project design specifically for the potash industry.

In 2011, development of the Talitsky mine construction project continued. The research institute Belgorkhimprom (Republic of Belarus) was named the project's general contractor. Belgorkhimprom has 30 years of experience in the field of mining project design specifically for the potash industry.

VPC contracted with Interregional Distribution Network Company of the Urals to supply the future mine site with electricity.
A temporary road 5.1 km long to the Talitsky mine site was constructed.

A reserve valuation was carried out according to JORC standards, which confirmed the deposit's measured and proved resources at 157.3 million tonnes of K2O.

FGUP US-30 was hired as the contractor for design and construction of mine shafts. FGUP US-30 is one of Russia's largest construction companies specializing in excavation work.

Control wellbores were drilled pursuant to the Talitsky mine construction preparation plan and studies of ore samples, water sources and background environmental conditions were conducted along with other preparation work required by the license conditions.

The head of the Berezniki city administration approved a land plot selection act and agreed on the Talitsky mine location.
Five exploration boreholes with a total drill footage of 2,411 m were drilled. A groundwater survey of oversaline deposits and a mud log of salina were completed. Area and borehole geophysical surveying was also finalised.

The head of the Berezniki city administration approved a land plot selection act and agreed on the Talitsky mine location.

Five exploration boreholes with a total drill footage of 2,411 m were drilled. A groundwater survey of oversaline deposits and a mud log of salina were completed. Area and borehole geophysical surveying was also finalised.

Scientific and design institutes ran full-scale lab studies of ore samples, surrounding rocks, water and gas obtained from the boreholes. At the same time, Galurgia performed a technological study of ore preparation characteristics. Geoprognoz prepared the design premises for a conditions feasibility study and developed a prospect report according to clause 4.1. of the License Agreement.

Galurgia carried out the front-end engineering design necessary to proceed with designing a mine and processing complex at the Talitsky area. General engineering solutions for the Talitsky mine were developed to establish the optimal location, saline and sludge dumps, opening, mining and processing schemes.

Geological prospecting work began with the participation of Galurgia, Genesis-Perm, Geoprognoz and the Urals Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Galurgia issued a Declaration of Intent to build the Talitsky mine.

Geological prospecting work began with the participation of Galurgia, Genesis-Perm, Geoprognoz and the Urals Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Galurgia issued a Declaration of Intent to build the Talitsky mine.

VPC hired Perm State University to develop an environmental monitoring programme and GEO Planning and Surveying Institute to perform an air photographic survey of the Talitsky area and create 1:5000, 1:2000 and 1:500 topographic maps necessary for construction and surveying.
  
Galurgia proceeded with development of an environmental feasibility study, and the Hygiene and Epidemiology Centre in the Perm Krai performed the radiological study required to obtain a sanitary and epidemiological finding for construction of the Talitsky mine.

Following the receipt of findings from these leading Russian institutes and a thorough in-house analysis, VPC applied to the Russian Federal Subsoil Resources Management Agency (Rosnedra) to optimise the key work stages as set forth in the license agreement. Rosnedra agreed to the new terms, which have the Talitsky mine reaching its design capacity in 2018.

VPC won the auction for the right to develop the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit. Acron Group hired Urals Scientific Research and Design Institute of Mineral Salt Production (Galurgia) to develop a plan to survey the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit, and the plan was approved by Geolexpertisa.

The Russian Federal Subsoil Resources Management Agency published a list of solid mineral deposits open for licensing, which included four areas of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit. After analyzing estimated commercial grade, thickness of pay zones, existing infrastructure and other factors, the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk deposit was chosen for the project.

Acron Group decided to establish a potash raw material base to supply its facilities with the potash necessary for production of mineral fertilisers. The Group ordered a feasibility study for the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit based on an analysis of existing Russian reserve deposits. The results of the feasibility study indicated that the Verkhnekamsk deposit's unassigned areas could be developed economically.