LLC UMG Kaolin, a VESCO Group company in Ukraine, has won the auction for obtaining a special permit for subsoil use at the Ivankivetska site for a period of 5 years. Three companies participated in the auction, and participation was open to all interested parties. The electronic bidding was conducted under conditions of transparency and fair competition. The winner offering the highest price was determined by the system. The cost of the special permit is 11 million UAH.
The site is located in the Berdychiv district of Zhytomyr region, on the northern outskirts of the village of Velyki Hadomtsi, 15.0 km southeast of the district center, the city of Berdychiv. Its total area is 277.84 hectares.
No specialized geological exploration for primary kaolins (raw kaolin) has been carried out on the site, but based on the analogy with a previously studied neighboring deposit, the mineral resource is expected to consist of primary kaolins of Mesozoic–Cenozoic age, with physical and chemical properties meeting the needs of ceramic industry manufacturers.
The raw kaolin expected at the site is a natural mineral composed mainly of kaolinite, with impurities of other minerals such as quartz, ilmenite, rutile, and mica. It is white or nearly white in color, finely dispersed, hard, and non-plastic.
“The VESCO team has significant experience in the extractive industry. We aim to expand the range of raw materials and tailor-made solutions for our partners. Kaolin clays are an important component for ceramic manufacturers. Therefore, the new product will successfully complement VESCO Group’s existing resource base and strengthen our product portfolio,” said Yevhenii Tsymarman, CEO of the VESCO Group companies in Ukraine.
After obtaining the special permit, the Group will conduct detailed geological exploration of the site along with pilot-industrial development, followed by the approval of reserves by the State Commission on Mineral Resources of Ukraine.
VESCO Group is open to partnerships and is actively exploring new opportunities to expand its global production base. The Group’s current reserves amount to more than 400 million tonnes.
