 Brief historical outlook
The valley of the Zheltaya (Yellow) River with its branches, canes and violet willows were used to be called Zheltye Vody ravine. Both the river and the valley were named so by the Cossacks who noticed the yellow color of the river water which washed off some open egresses of iron ore, when the bright yellow color - the iron oxidation products - got into the river. Numerous hollows and gullies with impassable groves and brakes lead to the river. Zheltye Vody was surrounded by deserted open land covered with luxuriant grass. These places were called Dikoye Pole.
Zheltye Vody ravine located at the intersection of the Black and Mikitinsky Routes which led to Zaporozhye. Therefore, the site was situated as between the devil and the blue sea. Often it was invaded by troops of Polish lords who came from the Northern West seeking runaway slaves. From the South invaded the Tatars. They called the place Sary Sou which means Yellow Water.
In 1648 year Ukrainians fought against the Polish troops, and finally totally defeated the latter e on May, the 16 in the area of Knyazhyi Bayraki ravine. This was the first victory of the Ukrainians in their Emancipation War of 1648-1654. Ukrainian army had about 20 thousand troops led by Hetman Bogdan Khmel’nits’kyy.
The first settlements on the Yellow River were established in the middle of 17th century. A Cossacks steading (later Yellow village) was registered in 1680 year. Several other steadings were set up in 1740 year. 20 years later about 200 inhabitants lived there. They tilled the soil and raised farm cattle.
The very name of the ravine was given to the first mine which was called the Yellow River. Now it is a town of Zheltye Vody, the hometown of the central administration office of the Enterprise.
The history of zheltorechenskoye deposit exploration
Engineer Kantkevich, the creator of the first geological map of Krivorozhskiy basin, in Mining Journal No. 3 in 1880 year noted rich crops of iron ore in the area of the Yellow River basin. Deposits of red iron ore, with iron content ranging within 58-68%, were located close to the ground surface.
The following was published in Yekaterininskaya Railroad Bulletin for 1903 year in the Chapter “Veselo-Ivanovskiy Mine”, namely: “In 1895 a mining businessman L’vov together with a railroad engineer Borutskiy took on lease 870 dessiatinas of land for 24 years with the purpose to explore and extract ore; the payment on lease comprised 0.5 kopecks per each half-pood of ore. The annual guaranteed payment amounted at least 2000 rubles. The businessmen began the construction of the open mine “L’vovskiy Open-cast Mine” on the site of major deposit.”
The industrial operation of the mine in mass scale started on May 06, 1901 upon completion of the construction of a railway from Yellow River township to Yellow Waters railway station (9.86 verstas long). The construction works were funded by “The Yellow River” French-Belgian Mining Industrial Society with authorized capital of 6 million francs.
In addition to Veselo-Ivanovskiy Open-cast Mine there were four another open-cast mines with relatively small resources and extraction capacities, namely: the mines of Krivorozhskoye Society, “Ryndik and Co.”, Bryansk Society, “Kopylov and Calotti”. However, all these mines operated for quite a short time.
In early 20th century the capacity of extraction of the iron ore from the said mine reached the level of 24 million poods which was 4.4% of the total iron ore extraction in Russia.
In 1924 all the open-cast mines were united into a single enterprise named “The Yellow River Mine”. According to the development plans, a shaft of Kapital’naya mine was laid in 1929, and in 1939 the mine produced the first tons of iron ore. It was one of the best iron mines not only in Krivoy Rog region, but also in the entire USSR.
After the Great Patriotic War, owing to the working enthusiasm of workers and support of the Soviet Government, Kapital’naya Mine was put into operation in the very short item. Yellow River railway station and the railroad to Yellow Waters station were restored. As early as in 1944 the Mining Administration delivered 173.3 thousand tons of iron ore to the national metallurgical plants.
In 1950 the extraction of iron ore increased to 586.6 thousand tons which amounted 88% of the total extraction of 1940 year.
In 1945 the first signs of uranium ore presence were found in Pervomayskoye and Zheltorechenskoye ore deposits. Industrial extraction of uranium ore began in 1946-48 years, and by 1951 uranium ore was extracted in drifting at Kapital’naya mine.
The history of the enterprise
1951
According to Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated July 24,1951, Kombinat No. 9 was set up on the basis of Pervogo Maya and Yellow River mines of Leninruda Industrial Trust under the Ministry of Ferrous Metals of the USSR and some other entities; another name of the new entity was P.O.B. No. 28 . Later it was renamed into Eastern Ore Dressing Complex.
On August, the 1st on the grounds of Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated 24.07.51 Eastern Ore Dressing Complex was founded. The Enterprise comprises two Mining Administrations, as follows: Mining Administration No. 1 (Settlement named after May 1st) and Mining Administration No. 2 (Yellow River settlement).
The First CEO of Kombinat No. 9 (then this job title was called so) was appointed Mikhail Nesterovich Bondarenko by order ¹53 as of 10.08.51 issued by P.Y. Antropov, the Head of the 2nd Main Administration under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. By the same order Borys Ivanovich Yakushenko was appointed the Chief Engineer of the Enterprise.
Alexander Stepanovich Buryan was appointed to the position of the Head of the 1st Mining Administration according to order No. ¹52 issued by the Head of the 2nd Main Administration under the Council of Ministers of the USSR; Vladimir Georgievich Alexeenko was appointed to the position of the Head of 2nd Mining Administration by the same order.
On August 31 exploration and assessment of the resources of Pervomayskoye and Zheltorechenskoye deposits was completed. The said subjects were transferred to the 2nd Main Adninistration under the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
Construction of Obyedinennaya and Severnaya mines (MA No.1), and Novaya and Ol’khovskaya mines (MA No. 2 ) was started.
1955
Repair and Engineering Works was put into commission.
By Decree No 793 of the Minister of Medium Machinery of the USSR the decision to erect Hydro-Metallurgical Shop was adopted.
1956
First ore was produced at Novaya mine.
1957
Ol’khovskaya and Severnaya mines produced first ore.
1958
The on-surface premises of “Novaya Glubokaya” mine, with tower-type drop hammer were erected.
The Centerl Scientific-Research Laboratory was set up under the Central Plant Laboratory of Hydro-Metallurgical Plant.
The Central Laboratory of Measurements and Controls was set up.
December, same year
Hydro-Metallurgical Plant was erected and put into commission.
1959
The first kilo of uranium in the form of U 308 was produced.
1960
The Central Scientific-Research Laboratory of Automation (CSRLA) was set up.
1961
The beginning of works at Devladovskoye deposit.
1965
In July the first uranium was produced at the underground leaching shop in Devladovo.
1966
In July, to distinguish the entity’s high performance indices, the Enterprise was awarded the Red Labor Banner order.
Commencement of works at Bratskoye deposit.
1967
On February 02, 1967 Mining Administration No. 2 was set up on the base of Michurinskoye deposit.
1969
Extraction of ore commenced at Michurinskoye deposit.
1970
On 12th April the first uranium was produced at Bratskoye underground leaching shop. Commencement of works at Severinskoye deposit.
1971
Date processing center (DPC) was set up.
1972
The project of development and reconstruction of Hydro-Metallurgical Plant was drawn up. (The second part of the said project was implemented in 1975). Reconstruction of Hydro-Metallurgical Plant commenced.
April. Mining administration No. 3 on the base of Vatutinskoye deposit was set up.
1975
Commencement of works at Vatutinskoye deposit (the first ore extracted).
Severnaya Mine under MA No.2 reached its projected capacity.
1976
On 18th June the restoration and development of Hydro-Metallurgical Plant were completed. The capacity of the Plant was doubled.
The first ore was extracted at Mine No.1 under MA No. 3.
1980
On 05, May commenced works on Mikhailovskoye deposit.
1981
Commencement of works at Safonovskoye deposit.
1984
Mine ¹1 of Smolinskiy pit reached its projected capacity.
Commencement of construction of Novokonstantinovskiy pitch.
On February 06, 1984 the first set of premises of Sulfur Acid Production Plant (SK-42) was put into commission.
1987
In November 1987 the second set of facilities of Sulfur Acid Production Plant (SK-46) was put into commission. The productive capacity of the Plant reached the level of 1 000 000 tons of sulfur acid (the largest Plant in the USSR).
Due to the adoption of the Conversion Program, Severinskoye deposit was transferred to the mode of wet conservation.
1989
The first ore was extracted at Centralnoye deposit of Ingul’skaya mine.
Due to conversion it was decided to cease works at Novokonstantinovskoye, Mikhailovskoye and Safonovskoye deposits.
1991
By Decree No. 227 of the Cabinet of Ukraine dated September 24, VostGOK is transferred to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Machinery under the Military-Industrial Complex and Conversion.
1995
Novokonstantinovskoye deposit is transferred to the balance of VostGOK.
1998
The state Committee of Land Resources of Ukraine adopted the resources of Novokonstantinovskoye deposit.
By Decree of the Cabinet of Ukraine as of May 11, VostGOK was transferred to the Ministry of Power Engineering of Ukraine.
1999
On 1st of April Scientific-Industrial Complex of Automation and Machinery Building (SICAMB) was set up on the basis of Repair Mechanical Works and Central Scientific-Research Laboratory.
2000
The project of erection of Novokonstantinovskiy Mine was approved by Decree No. 256 p of the Cabinet of Ukraine.
October 02. By Order No. 445 issued by the Minister, VostGOK was transferred to the Ministry of Fuel and Power engineering of Ukraine.
Titles of the Enterprise
Since 01.08.1951 – Enterprise P.O.B. 28 (Kombinat No. 9).
Since 04.03.1966 – Enterprise Ð-6449 (public title – VostGOK).
Since 21.04.1989 – VostGOK.
Since 01.03.1991 – VostGOK Scientific-Production Amalgamation.
Since 03.11.1993 – VostGOK State Enterprise.
CEOs of the Enterprise:
Bondarentko Mikhail Nesterovich from 1951 till 1953.
Chirkov Boris Nikolayevich from 1953 till 1958.
Volkovoy Leontiy Spiridonovich from 1958 till 1961.
Mamilov Viktor Avvakumovich from 1961 till 1968.
Kazakov Alexey Trofimovich from 1968 till 1976 (deceased).
Rudenko Vasiliy Vladimirovich from 1976 till 1982.
Khokhlov Oleg Ivanovich from 1982 till 1988.
Ganza Nikolay Alexeyevich from 1988 till 1994.
Babak Mikhail Ivanovich from 1994 till 2004.
Per’kov Petr Georgievich from 2004 till 2007.
Kovalenko Viktor Vasil'evich from 2007 till 2007.
Grebenyuk Alexander Viktorovich from 2007 till 2008.
Per’kov Petr Georgievich from 2008 till 2008.
Sorokin Alexander Gennadievich since 2008 till present time.
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