«Zarechnaya» mine: prospects of development.
«Coal» magazine, August 2009
The difficult situation in economics has led to reduce in demand and, consequently, price of coal at the world markets. Some coal-mining enterprises see production and sales increase as a solution of the problem. «Zarechnaya» mine" Ltd., chose that way as well. «Zarechnaya» mine" Ltd. is one of the most promising coal-mining enterprises not only in Kuzbass but in Russia as well. «Zarechnaya» brand is well-known abroad. The mine exports 90% of its production its main consumers being coke-chemical, power and other industries in more than 15 countries, Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Hungary, Finland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands among them. Access to the world coal market is provided by the high quality of the final product. All coal mined at «Zarechnaya» is worked into clean coal at the coal-preparation plant «Sputnik» — a modern, well-equipped enterprise.
In order to increase productivity face 1307 the first of «Baikaimsky» bed (thickness up to 5.3 m) was set into operation in July 2009.
The «Baikaimsky» bed with ultimate reserves of more than 20 million tons of coal is to become an alternative to «Polysayevsky-2» bed (thickness up to 4.5 m) where the works were finished in January, 2009. The nearest future prospects of «Zarechnaya» mine development are associated with the «Baikaimsky» bed. At the same time the mine is to prepare three thinner beds «Insky-1» (thickness up to 2.1 m), «Insky-2» (thickness up to 1.7 m), «Sputnik» (thickness up to 1 m). The development of the «Baikaimsky» bed started in 2005. All permanent workings (way, conveyor, ventilation brake slopes) were completed, their total length being more than 4 kilometers.
A face 1307 block was prepared (total length of 1.5 km) as well as the pumping of the «Baikaimsky» bed. The amount of work completed can be compared to building a new bed-shaft.
Developing of the «Baikaimsky» bed and brake slope driving was carried out by department 3 (supervisor A.A.Alexanndrov).
In October 2007 the works at the «Baikaimsky» bed were taken over by the brigade of drivers (supervisor S.I.Vlasenko) who carried out the greater amount of work. When preparing block 1307 in order to reach 5 and more meter height (the total thickness of the bed) they were the first at the mine to apply the double-level driving technology which provides the most complete coal extraction. Average driving rate made 250 meters a month — it’s one of the best results in Kuzbass. Specially for developing the «Baikaimsky» bed the enterprise bought new equipment. Face 1307 is equipped with mechanical support produced by Yurginsky Mechanical Engineering Plant for thick beds development (up to 5.3 meters), combine EL-3000, face conveyor, loader PF4\1132 with a coal crusher as a unit produced by BUCYRUS DBT (England-Germany).
The mechanical support was produced by Yurginsky Mechanical Engineering Plant specially for the «Baikaimsky» bed geological conditions. Suggestions of «Zarechnaya» mine specialists were also taken into consideration. The first support units were delivered to the mine in December 2008. Yurginsky Mechanical Engineering Plant delivered 126 support units altogether. Every unit weighs 34 tons. The complex was lowered into the shaft and assembled. Assembling of the mechanical support units produced by Yurginsky Mechanical Engineering Plant, combine EL-3000, face conveyor, loader PF4\1132 produced by BUCYRUS DBT (England-Germany) were carried out step by step. At first specifications for the combine, face conveyor and loader were given to the foreign firms such as Eickhoff (Germany), T.Machinery a.s. (Czech Republic ), Zabjan Mechanical Plant (Poland) и DBT (Germany). Unfortunately, our home industry does not produce combines for thick beds over 5 meters. Equipment suggested by DBT (Germany) was chosen as the most suitable due to its technical characteristics. Factors that were taken into consideration included quality, terms, opinions of enterprises using the same equipment. Support units and conveyor connection was carried out by the technical specialists of Yurginsky Mechanical Engineering Plant in cooperation with DBT (Germany) specialists, all suggestions of «Zarechnaya» mine specialists being taken into account.
Total weight of a combine is 82 tons. Its height is 2,2 m, length is about 16 m. That’s why the combine was disassembled before being lowered and transported to the assembling chamber. Two diesel locomotives were employed to delivery the combine to the assembling chamber. The dismantled units were assembled at the junction of windway and assembling chamber by means of the new hydraulic hoist (weight-lifting capacity of 36 tons), produced by Yurginsky Mechanical Engineering Plant. The hydraulic hoist passed the industrial tests successfully. Then the combine was set on the face conveyor panline.
At the same time, department 1 experts mounted power train in face 1307 windway, as well as automation and communication means and electricity in the assembly chamber.
Setup and adjustment of the equipment was carried out by the service company Bucyrus in cooperation with «Zarechnaya» experts.
At the beginning of July, the face was examined and put into operation.
Works at production face 1307 are carried out by Y.P.Sapsin brigade which was the first among the coal mining enterprises of Polysayevo this year to bring to grass one million tons of coal.
Prospective average extraction is
Special attention is paid to providing industrial safety through degassing of coal beds, measures to prevent gas emissions, fires and flooding. Control and monitoring systems are constantly being improved with all information displayed at the control desk.
Production grows raises the problem of timely delivery of products to the consumer.
The project of reconstruction of railway station «Proektnaya» and construction of the stage «Zarechnaya» — «Proektnya» is carried out at the enterprise. This will provide the mine with an independent access to the main railway lines.
The station «Zarechnaya» as well as the railway bridge over the river Inya and the tunnel underpass between «Zarechnya» — «Proektnya» have been constructed and prepared for work. Now three dispatch ways are being constructed at «Proektnya» station while contact network and electrical centralization devices are being reconstructed.
«Zarechnaya» has its both feet on the floor, providing not only the further development of the enterprise, but social security of its workers as well. The wage level at the enterprise is one of the highest in the region. «Zarechnaya» workers confidently look ahead and are sure of the future well-being of their enterprise.
