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Progress on constructing the “Żelazny Most” reservoir

News date: April 14, 2020
Progress on constructing the “Żelazny Most” reservoir

The first phase of the extension to the "Żelazny Most” Tailings Storage Facility is coming to an end. Budimex used the mild winter to carry out works ahead of the assumptions in the schedule for Phases 2 and 3. The completion of all works is scheduled for June 2022.

 

The project as implemented by Budimex includes preparatory activities and the construction of dams surrounding the Southern Section - the eastern dam located in the Rudna district and the western dam in the Polkowice district. The works have been performed at the request of KGHM Polska Miedź SA since May 2018. “The "Żelazny Most” Tailings Storage Facility is the largest waste reservoir of its type in Europe. After completion of the works, the reservoir will be able to store about 170 million cubic metres of waste from copper ore flotation,” said Artur Popko, Vice-President of Budimex SA. “Due to the strategic nature of the task, despite some restrictions associated with the coronavirus epidemic, works continue under special OHS rules,” he added.

 

The works are to be fully completed in mid-2022. Opening of the Southern Section will make it possible to deposit flotation waste throughout its area. The contract value is PLN 578 million.

 

Efficient operation
Earthworks related to the construction of the Phase I reservoir are already 99% complete; the climbing formwork of the K2 and K3 chambers has also been completed. Currently, finishing works, installation of the mattress drainage and construction of sealing cohesive layers are underway. Drainage systems for the facility are planned for the coming months. “The mild winter treated us kindly, so that we could carry out many works earlier than scheduled. The current challenge is rainy days, which have been frequent in Poland recently,” says Artur Popko, Vice-President of Budimex SA.

 

About 50 subcontractors are currently working on site, and about 170 equipment units are also engaged - mainly owned by Budimex

 

Strategic facility
”Żelazny Most” Tailings Storage Facility is a site for depositing copper ore flotation waste from all the mining plants of KGHM Polska Miedź SA. The modern construction technologies implemented by Budimex will ensure the efficient use of the facility and the development of KGHM in the copper basin. The investor chose the safest construction option and sealing of dams in terms of the required hydrotechnical and environmental properties.

The target volume of the Southern Section is approx. 170 million m3, with a total length of the external dams at approx. 6400 m and a maximum height of 60 m. The planned width of the beaches will be at least 200 m. The facility is environmentally neutral and fully protects the natural environment from water collected in the tank.

 

As a leader in the construction industry, Budimex has completed many hydrotechnical projects. It has almost completed the Racibórz Dolny flood protection reservoir and is currently also performing the design works on the construction of the "Wiślany" collector in Warsaw.

 

The "Żelazny Most" project is being implemented by Budimex SA South Infrastructure Construction Branch.