ERG Open Innovation Platform

ERG INNOVATIONS

Welcome to the Open innovations platform of the Eurasian Resources Group, a leading international company in the field of mineral resource extraction and processing. We specialize in searching for breakthrough ideas and their implementation that create added value and synergy with ERG's core business.

Submit an idea

Our scope of interest

Your idea can become the basis for the next breakthrough project at ERG

We have the capabilities and experience to make this happen

Competencies

Dozens of specialists with unique qualifications in pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, benefication, ecology and other areas

Technical facilities

4 regional laboratories thoroughly integrated into production in Aktobe, Khromtau, Pavlodar and Aksu

Resources

Funding for the development, upscaling and testing of technology

Project portfolio

Dozens of successfully implemented projects for the enterprises of the Group

Investment into a startup, technology acquisition, joint development or other format. Flexibility in cooperation is our advantage.

Examples of successful projects

Production of activated carbon
The main objective of the project is import substitution of activated carbon widely used in water treatment and metallurgy. The idea would be to produce industrial activated carbon from special coke fines manufactured at the JSC «Shubarkol Komir». Our specialists developed the technology, tested it and patented it in a laboratory and experimental industrial scales. As a result, we launced a new plant for the production of activated carbon with a capacity of 1000 tons per year. There are no analogues production in the CIS.
Agglomeration of fines of chrome-bearing raw material
The main objectives of the project were: provision of metallurgical processing with bulk raw materials during the shortage period, as well as more efficient use of fines of chrome-bearing raw material. A variety of cold aglomeration technologies has gone through testing, including roll briquetting, vacuum extrusion, rolling and vibration pressing. As tests showed, the best characteristics of high-strength briquettes could be achieved with the use of vibration pressing technology. The results of the project were transferred to the appropriate division for the construction of a briquetting section.
Vacuum-thermal production of refined ferrochrome
In order to reduce the environmental impact of smelting refined ferrochrome (by eliminating the use of lime), as well as to improve the technical and economic indicators of production, a technology for obtaining refined ferrochrome by vacuum-thermal method from high-carbon ferrochrome has been investigated. Vacuum-thermal carbon depletion of the fines of high-carbon ferrochrome allows to obtain refined ferrochrome with an ultra-low carbon content (up to 0.01%), and practically eliminates the formation of slag and dust.
Alumina processing from unconditioned bauxite
The project aimed at reducing the cost of alumina by partially replacing bauxite at the sintering branch with unconditioned raw materials, in other words, by overburden. Calculations and studies have shown that the involvement of unconditioned bauxite in the sintering charge with a fraction of no more than 50% preserves optimal technical and economic indicators. As a consequence of the project, the industrial use of unconditioned bauxite has been launched at the Pavlodar Alumina Plant of the "Aluminium of Kazakhstan" JSC.
Reduction of ferroalloy fines
The production of ferroalloys involves crushing the split metal to a marketable size. In the process, from 20% to 40% of the metal is inevitably formed as fines, which accordingly reduces the volume of the commercial alloy. To solve this problem, it was suggested to use casting troughs with a cellular structure instead of traditional flat troughs. During metal extraction from a hexagon shape mould it collapses at the constriction site, forming pellets of marketable size. Thus, the main part of the metal will already be fractionated and will not require crushing. Due to implementation of the project, it was possible to achieve a significant reduction in fines (from 29% to 65%, depending on the type of ferroalloy).