History

2011

Uralkali and Silvinit merged to create one of the world’s leading potash producers

2010

A controlling stake in Uralkali was sold to companies owned by Russian businessmen Suleyman Kerimov (25%), Filaret Galchev (15%), and Alexander Nesis (13.2%), while retaining about 10% of Uralkali shares.

2009

With the support of Uralkali and Silvinit, the Potash Institute was established on the campus of the Perm State Technical University.

2008

Silvinit acquired licence to mine and explore the Polovodovsky block in the Verkhnekamskoe potash-magnesium salts deposit

2007

In October 2007 Uralkali listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange. Uralkali’s order book was 23 times oversubscribed

2006

In October 2006 brine started seeping into the Uralkali’s Mine 1. For 10 days Uralkali made its best efforts to save the mine. However, an increase in the brine flow forced the company to cease operations. The State Commission established by Russia’s mining safety watchdog, Rostekhnadzor, to investigate the causes of the accident concluded that it was the result of a geological anomaly in the structure of the Verkhnekamskoe deposit. The circumstances of the accident were classified as "extraordinary and unavoidable"

2004

Uralkali obtained a licence to develop the Ust-Yaivinsky block in the Verkhnekamskoe potash-magnesium salts deposit.

2001

The Baltic Bulk Terminal (BBT) was launched in Saint Petersburg. BBT is currently among Russia's leading mineral fertiliser transshipment terminals

1992

Berezniki 4 chemical enrichment plant produced its first 98% potassium chloride  

Uralkali became a joint stock company

The Silvinit Production Association became OJSC Silvinit  

1986

The mine at Berezniki 3 was flooded following disruption of waterproof strata which allowed water penetration from higher layers into the mine workings

In order to maintain raw material supply to the Mine 3 enrichment plant, it was decided to supply potash ore from Mine 4 which was then under construction. Mine 4 is Russia's most recent potash mine. It produced its first ore in late 1986 and is now Uralkali's largest mine.

1983

The Solikamsk Potash Mill was divested from the Uralkali Production Association and incorporated into a separate entity called the Silvinit Production Association

1973

The Third Potash Mining Complex (Berezniki 3) started potassium chloride production, Berezniki 3 was then the world's largest producer of potash

1965

The construction of the Third Potash Mining Complex, with an annual capacity of 3.6 million tonnes, was started in Berezniki

1964

The Soviet National Economy Council resolved to establish the Uralkali industrial association in Berezniki, combining the First and Second Potash Mining Complexes respectively in Solikamsk and Berezniki. These together became the First Potash Mining Complex

The construction of the Second Potash Mining Complex in Berezniki, with the annual capacity of 3.5 million tonnes, was started. This is now Berezniki 2

1963

The USSR’s first flotation enrichment plant was launched at the Berezniki Potash Mining Complex

1962

The carnallite plant’s first production line, with the annual capacity of 180 tonnes, was put into operation

1950–1960

The Berezniki Mine underwent a large-scale refurbishment, with the automation of manual labor processes

1949

Further construction work at the Berezniki Second Potash Mining Complex was resumed

1942

The Berezniki Potash Mining Complex started to produce pure white and technically modified salts

During the war, the USSR urgently needed carnallite to produce the magnesium required by the aviation industry. The carnallite ore reserves found in the Verkhnekamskoe potash- magnesium salt deposit made possible carnallite production. On May 1 1944 the first carnallite was produced

1936

Construction of the Berezniki Potash Mining Complex was suspended due to financial constraints and was resumed only before World War II

1934

The First Potash Mining Complex was launched in Solikamsk

1932

Excavation of the first Berezniki mine shaft was started. In 1935 this shaft and a second shaft were then linked

1930

Soyuzkali decided to construct the Second Potash Mining Complex in Berezniki, later to become Uralkali’s Berezniki 1

1927

Construction of the First Potash Mining Complex began in Solikamsk

1926

The USSR State Planning Committee Presidium approved a resolution to develop the Soviet potash industry around the Solikamsk and its adjacent fields. The Soyuzkali Group was established

1925

Prospectors, headed by Professor Pavel Preobrazhensky, discovered the Verkhnekamskoe potash-magnesium salt deposit.