Nornickel has started work on creating a new horizon at a depth of 1,756 meters at the Glubokaya mine of the Skalisty mine, which is considered the deepest in Eurasia. According to the company's press service, the construction of a near-shaft yard is currently underway, which is a key technological hub that connects the mine shaft with the main workings.
Sergey Syrkin, who heads the Skalisty mine development directorate, said that the near-shaft yard of the SKS-1 shaft will be responsible for transporting associated ore and rock to the surface. In addition, it will provide fresh air and deliver building materials necessary for capital construction.
To ensure the safety of tunneling operations in this area, preliminary drilling is carried out to determine the water saturation and gas content of rocks. Since May 2025, about 35 thousand tons of associated ore have already been raised during mining operations. Representatives of the company emphasized that the high quality of this raw material helps to partially cover construction costs even before the facility is put into operation.
In the coming years, Nornickel intends to start creating horizons at a depth of 1,610 meters and 1,550 meters. This will allow for a more complete and efficient development of the deposit. A new administrative and amenity complex is also planned to be built at the Skalisty mine, the energy infrastructure will be developed, and a backfill complex will be created.
The full output of the Glubokaya mine to its design capacity — 2.2 million tons of ore per year — is scheduled for 2033.
