The defrosting of transhipped bulk cargo during winter months is provided in two defrosting halls.

The defrosting halls have a combined annual output of 1.3 million tonnes per 90 days for defrosting bulk cargo in the winter. They are capable, depending on the type of goods, of defrosting 416 iron ore pellet wagons, 312 fines wagons or 208 concentrate ore wagons every 24 hours. The halls have been refurbished and technologically modernised. These facilities ensure the efficient and ecological utilisation of the thermal energy generated to defrost goods transported in wagons during winter months.

Each of the defrosting halls has two defrosting tunnels that can handle the tallest broad gauge wagons in cycles of 26 – 27 broad gauge wagons. Defrosting output is provided by technical units in two tunnel segments with zones that are approximately 80 metres long. One ecological advance is the use of defrosting equipment that operates on the principle of hot air heat, which circulates inside the tunnels with a minimum of exhaust gases released into the air.

The defrosting halls are insulated, which contributes significantly towards minimising heat losses and improving the efficiency of operations. The operation of the defrosting halls is automated and heating controls are controlled remotely by control room operators.