Acron Group plans to begin production at its Talitsky potash project in Perm Territory in the second half of 2026. Board chairman Alexander Popov confirmed the timetable in the company's 24 March 2025 announcement.
Main construction of the cage-shaft surface complex is complete; work continues on the skip-shaft complex and processing plant.
The mining and processing complex is expected to reach design capacity by 2029. Its capacity and Acron's feedstock requirements are:
- two million tonnes of potassium chloride annually;
- potential expansion to 2.6 million tonnes annually;
- Acron's own potash requirement: 600,000 tonnes annually.
Underground development
Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, Acron's project subsidiary, has installed the main shaft hoisting equipment and put two Ural-20R heading-and-winning machines into operation. By its 17 March progress update, a 320-metre connection between Shaft 1 and Shaft 2 had been completed. Approximately 10,600 tonnes of rock had been extracted during the development work.
On 16 March 2025, Acron Group chief executive Vladimir Kunitsky and Alexey Makarov, vice president for capital construction, production development and equipment upgrades, visited the shaft. Their inspection covered the progress of work, the new heading-and-winning complex, and procedures for extracting, loading and transporting ore.
Verkhnekamsk Potash Company obtained its licence for the Talitsky area of the Verkhnekamsk potassium-magnesium salt deposit in 2008. Acron intends the project to establish its own potash raw-material base for complex fertilisers.
Earlier ownership transaction
During the first quarter of 2024, Acron bought a 30% interest in Verkhnekamsk Potash Company from partner banks. Its holding reached 80% at that stage. Before the transaction, Acron held 50% plus one share, while Sberbank held 29.9%, Otkritie Bank 10.1% and VTB 10%. The price was not disclosed. Acron had also bought a 10% stake from Sberbank in 2020.
For the full 2024 reporting period, Acron subsequently recorded purchases totalling 40% of the project from partner banks, bringing its holding to 90% plus one share.
Company and contact details
Acron Group
Head office: World Trade Centre, 12 Krasnopresnenskaya Naberezhnaya, Moscow 123610, Russia
Telephone: +7 495 745 77 45
[email protected]
www.acron.ru/en/
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