OTEKO JSC, marine terminal operator in the Taman port, kicked off the block sulphur transshipment. The plan is to accommodate up to 100,000 tons of such cargo before the year-end. Within the first half of 2025, the Company intends to double the volume of block sulphur transshipment and accommodate 200,000 tons.
To launch the process of block sulphur transshipment, the plant’s rail car unloading station underwent an all-round modernization, and a state-of-the-art system for the product treatment was implemented. More specifically, a special-purpose industrial crusher was installed, developed given the sulphur’s high reactivity and essential safety requirements. This equipment is designed to grind large lumps of sulphur down to fine fractions fit for further use in various industrial processes.
Sulphur at OTEKO’s bulk terminal is transshipped fully closed. The rail cars loaded with block sulphur are sent to the unloading station with the fraction size reaching 300 mm. By means of a car dumper, the content is carefully poured into the crusher’s special screen mounted over the hopper. This 50×50 mm screen divides sulphur into two fractions. Fine fractions (less than 50 mm) pass through the screen’s openings and fall into the intake hopper. From there, they are fed to the belt feeder and distributed along the conveyor line. Large lumps of sulphur (above 50 mm) sitting on the screen slide down on the crusher’s shaft. Here, they are crushed down to the required size. After crushing, ground sulphur is combined with its fine fraction, and then it is fed together along the conveyor to the sheltered warehouse for storage.
Special attention is paid to safety and environmental aspects when working with sulphur. The crusher is made of corrosion-proof materials that prevent chemical reaction. The crusher’s design prevents spark generation; the equipment is fitted with dust suppression and ventilation systems.
“Launch of the block sulphur transshipment is a crucial step in implementation of the Company’s development strategy. Experts predict that the global sulphur market will demonstrate a sustainable growth over a medium-term horizon. The reason for this is that sulphur and its compounds are actively used in various industries. As an export-oriented company, we aspire to satisfy such growing global demand for sulphur and support Russian manufacturers. Installation of the state-of-the-art crusher would make it possible for us to ensure a high standard of quality and safety when processing such a complex product. Our strategic goal is to diversify transshipment in the Taman port through expansion of various cargo delivery to prospective countries and discovering new opportunities for cooperation. In future, our plan is to significantly increase the volumes of sulphur transshipment. For this, we have all the essential technical infrastructure: for instance, one of the largest sheltered sulphur warehouses in the world with a rated capacity of up to 300,000 tons of simultaneous storage,” Alexander Gaganov, Director of Bulk Business Development, OTEKO JSC, noted.
Such crushed sulphur is in high demand in the chemical industry for production of sulphuric acid, fertilizers, in the rubber industry, and other fields. High-quality crushing promotes performance enhancement of subsequent technological processes.
Background Information
OTEKO JSC is the largest port infrastructure investor in the South of Russia, operator of two marine terminals in the Taman port (bulk and liquid bulk ones). On the Black Sea cost of the Krasnodar Krai, the Company has built a world-class industrial and logistics cluster from the ground up; it single-handedly established the port, power, and railway infrastructure.
Being the primary marine transshipment complex for the domestic and transit freighters, OTEKO has significantly expanded the potential of the Southern Route for Russian export. The capacity of Taman’s marine terminals amounts to a record-breaking 90+ mln tons of bulk and liquid cargoes per year; that being said, the Company secures safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly cargo transshipment using high-end global technologies.
The tax payments by OTEKO draw up more than 60% of the annual budget of the Taman village settlement and 15% of the Temryuk district’s budget. The Company is an active member of the Taman Peninsula’s public life, the largest employer, and the region’s social investor; it rolls out a purpose-oriented program to develop social and economic potential of the Taman Peninsula.
