Cherkizovo Group launches an oil extraction plant

Yelets, Russia – August 11 – Cherkizovo Group has launched its own oil extraction plant, Russia’s largest high-protein oilseed processing facility. The opening ceremony was attended by the Company’s top management and high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Lipetsk Region’s government. 

Cherkizovo-Oils OEP in Yelets, the second biggest city in the Lipetsk Region, is conveniently located near a railway hub and the M4 (Don) Federal Highway. Investment in the plant exceeded RUB 10 bn. The project was implemented with the financial support of Russian Agricultural Bank.

The new OEP is Russia’s largest facility for processing high-protein oilseeds (mainly soy), with a capacity of about 1 million tonnes of soybeans per year (2,500 tonnes per day). Some of that soy comes from Cherkizovo Group's own fields. The plant will produce soybean oil, meal, hulls, and lecithin to supply the Company's nine feed mills across Russia. It is also expected to provide exports for China, the CIS, and other regions.

The construction of the plant started in 2020. It boasts cutting-edge equipment from such global leaders as Laidig and Europa Crown and has a unique meal storage system unmatched in Russia that prevents the product from coming into contact with the external environment. The plant is to be serviced by an elevator with a capacity of 220,000 tonnes at a time that may be doubled later and a railway station capable of handling over 100 cars.

Russia’s Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev and Governor of the Lipetsk Region Igor Artamonov took part in the OEP opening ceremony.