Kim again confuses slag with sludge: a new version about MGZ sludge

At the farewell briefing, Kim again called slag "sludge": only 50 kg of MGZ waste were sent for examination

Цей матеріал також доступний:

19 Jul 2026

0 709

During the final briefing in his role as head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, Vitaliy Kim once again spoke about the possible use of waste from the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant in road construction. The press conference took place in Mykolaiv on July 18, 2026.

According to him, a Korean company has already built an experimental road section near Kyiv in the direction of Brovary. However, for that road they used not the red sludge of MGZ, but another industrial material from Kryvyi Rih.

“They made a stretch of road near Kyiv in the direction of Brovary. It withstood the winter no worse, even better, than standard asphalt pavement. They obtained an expert report. This is a different sludge. This is sludge from iron ore from Kryvyi Rih. Despite that, they approved their program of bringing it here for themselves.
They asked us for an analysis of this sludge. 50 kg. Viktoriya personally carried it to “Nova Poshta”. That is, it was sent there for analysis in order to adapt the technology.
But there is the question that this sludge does not belong to the state. If it is technologically possible, procedurally we will resolve the issue. We are actually discussing this matter with the Fund. They know this problem. They want to package this issue when putting the sludge fields up for auction and obligations to the community regarding maintenance. This issue is under control with the Fund. Everything needs to be controlled so that nothing falls through the cracks along the way. But we will continue. Reshetilov dealt with this issue, it was part of his portfolio, so everything will be fine,” – said Vitaliy Kim.

MGZ sludge or metallurgical slag

In his statement Vitaliy Kim called the material used on the experimental road a “sludge from iron ore from Kryvyi Rih.”

However, Korabelov.info previously checked information about this project using publications from Korean sources. In the road technology of the company SG they use steel slag — metallurgical SLAG, which is formed during metallurgical production.

The red sludge of MGZ has a different origin: it is waste left after alumina production. Therefore, an experiment with metallurgical slag is not a test of the red sludge of the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant.

Korean sources also reported that the experimental section, 850 meters long, was arranged not in South Korea, but in the Kyiv region on the road between the villages of Zalissia and Zavorichi.

Kim already reported sending samples in 2023

About sending samples of MGZ sludge to the Korean side, Vitaliy Kim spoke as early as December 26, 2023. At that time he said that he personally handed the material to representatives of the Korean side.

“I will say this: I have a very small hope, but I have it. One of South Korea’s technologies is based on processing sludge for road construction. We have Kryvyi Rih, it is definitely possible, there is up to 18% savings with increased quality. When I met with them, I handed over samples of our MGZ sludge. If they can use our sludge in road repairs, it will save us,” – said Vitaliy Kim in 2023.

During the briefing on July 18, 2026 he did not specify whether the 50 kg sent via “Nova Poshta” was a new batch of material or a continuation of research on the samples sent back in 2023.

Vitaliy Kim also did not report what results were obtained after the first transfer of sludge and which organization conducted its analysis.

In May Kim spoke about a road already built in Korea

Another version was voiced on May 27, 2026. Then Vitaliy Kim said that the samples sent by the Ukrainian side had already been used to build an experimental road in South Korea.

According to him, the road stood for about a year, showed good results, and the Korean side was expecting certification of the technology.

“In Korea they made an experimental road section from it. It stood for a year and showed good results. Now we are waiting for certification of this technology so that it can later be proposed for use,” – said Vitaliy Kim.

However, already at the final briefing on July 18, 2026 he reported that the road is located near Kyiv, and the material used in its construction comes from Kryvyi Rih.

Thus, in public statements by Vitaliy Kim, the location of the experimental road and the origin of the material used to build it changed.

What is known about the 50 kg of sludge

At the briefing Vitaliy Kim stated that 50 kg of MGZ sludge had been sent to South Korea. According to him, the material is needed for expertise and adaptation of the technology.

He did not say that the experimental road was built from those exact 50 kg. On the contrary, according to the former head of the RMA, the samples were only sent for research.

At the same time, the briefing did not name:

the date of dispatch of the 50 kg of sludge;
the name of the Korean company or laboratory that received the material;
the place and method of sampling;
a list of planned studies;
the timeframe for obtaining results;
the results of the study of the samples sent in 2023.

As of the final briefing by Vitaliy Kim, it was reported only that the material had been sent for analysis. There was no report of a ready technology for the use of MGZ red sludge in road construction or the start of construction of an experimental road in the Mykolaiv region.

Who owns the sludge

Separately, Vitaliy Kim spoke about uncertainty regarding ownership rights to the accumulated sludge. According to him, after the plant’s assets were transferred under state control, the waste itself did not automatically become state property.

The issue of the sludge fields is being discussed with the State Property Fund of Ukraine. According to Vitaliy Kim, the Fund plans to take the sludge fields and obligations to the community into account when preparing the enterprise for auction.

The former head of the RMA also said that MGZ and the sludge fields were handled by Heorhiy Reshetilov, who, after Vitaliy Kim moved to the government, is performing the duties of head of the Mykolaiv RMA.