Mykolaiv to sell 48 million tons of sludge

Mykolaiv Alumina Plant is to be sold together with the sludge pits where alumina production waste is stored. These facilities are part of a single property complex of the enterprise and will be included in the list of assets to be offered to potential investors.

This is reported by MikVisti with reference to the State Property Fund of Ukraine.

The SPFU explained that the two sludge pits are an integral part of the company's property complex, which is planned to be put up for sale.

"The territory of the two sludge pits is part of the company's property complex, which is planned to be put up for sale," the Fund said.

These are facilities that store more than 48 million tons of sludge, which is waste from alumina production. Currently, they are maintained by the plant's employees using both special equipment and a dust suppression system.

In particular, during the warm season, a stationary sprinkler dust suppression system operates at the sludge pits, as well as the company's equipment - tractors with barrels and water trucks. In the cold season, snow cannons are used to control dust.

At the same time, the State Property Fund stated that the company operates as an independent business entity, so the responsibility for compliance with environmental legislation and the safe maintenance of sludge pits lies with the plant.

The agency also noted that the company's electricity supply is carried out according to hourly outage schedules determined by the energy supply company. As a result, the plant cannot ensure continuous operation of the sludge ponds' treatment systems.

Earlier, Alla Ryazhskikh, the head of the Environmental Commission of Mykolaiv Regional Council, warned that in case of disruption of technological processes, there could be a risk of a man-made and environmental disaster associated with possible emissions of hazardous substances into the air or ingress of sub-sludge water into the Dnipro-Bug estuary.

In addition, Mykolaiv Alumina refinery appealed to the State Property Fund to assist in lifting the arrest of the company's funds to allocate them for environmental protection measures and proper maintenance of sludge storage facilities.

Earlier, Intent wrote that Mykolaiv Alumina Plant will be put up for sale as a priority.

We also remind you that the State Property Fund has put up 99.57% of the shares of Odesa Port Plant for privatization auction. The enterprise is one of the largest chemical complexes in Ukraine with exports to more than 30 countries.

It produces fertilizers and nitrogen compounds, including ammonia and urea, and transships its own and other companies' products for export. Over 85% of its products are exported to more than 30 countries.

Андрій Колісніченко