The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending $10 million to Sharyn Gol JSC for the acquisition and installation of a de-stoning plant and the upgrade and expansion of a coal enrichment and briquetting plant. These plants will supply washed coal and smokeless fuel briquettes to industrial consumers for use in processes such as smelting and cement production, and to households for domestic heating. The expanded facilities following completion of the first phase of the project are expected to annually produce over 75,000 tonnes of semi-coke and briquetting products.
EBRD’s energy audit estimates that the project will lead to CO2 savings of 30,000 tonnes per annum and lower dust emissions from the coal briquettes by 20 per cent, compared to current practices. Independent estimates suggest that, when operational, the present project will save around 47 lives a year.