Evaluation of energy intensity of mining and processing production in difficult financial and economic conditions

The paper is dedicated to the urgent issue related to the supply and economical consumption of energy resources at domestic mining and dressing enterprises under the condition of scarce supply of such resources amid continuously growing prices and tariffs. The purpose of the article is to conduct a systematic analysis of power intensity of technological processes in mining industry aiming to define rational structure of energy resources consumption in view of limited financial possibilities of the majority of domestic mining enterprises in Ukraine. Research methods. The method of feasibility analysis was used to evaluate the current situation of energy consumption at mining and material processing enterprises; the method of refinement and synthesis was used to define factors that affect the amount of energy consumption, while the method of systemic analysis was applied to generalise theories and methods relevant to the rational level of commodity output power intensity in mining industry. Results. Organisational and technological factors that affect the efficiency of energy resources use with regard to the power intensity of technological processes at mining and dressing enterprises during extraction and processing of iron ore are analysed and systemised in the paper. Based on the derived relationships, a rational structure of energy resource consumption by technological zoning was determined for PJSC «Central Ore Mining and Processing Plant» (SCM Group) with a purpose of holding strong positions in the market of iron ore raw products. Conclusions. A detailed scheme of organisational and technological factors has been formed with consideration of their influence on the power intensity of technological processes of iron ore raw material mining and processing. It can be used in the following scientific research to devise certain measures of energy savings in order to reduce the cost of production at mining and oredressing enterprises in the complicated financial and economic conditions.