New longwall launched at Mechel’s Sibirginskaya coal mine

Mechel PAO says its Southern Kuzbass Coal Company unit has launched a new longwall at the Sibirginskaya underground coal mine, in Russia.

The new longwall 3-1-11 is located 450 m underground at Sibirginskaya, is 220 m long, has an average seam height of 4 m and an extraction panel of 750 m. Investment in the project totalled over 838 million rubles ($12.9 million), Mechel said.

The longwall is equipped with a cutter-loader, a belt car and crusher, drag bar conveyor, a 400- and a 1,500-m belt conveyors, and a 130-section powered support system, according to Mechel To ensure high production efficiency and labour safety, the mine also acquired a mobile vacuum air pump degasser, it said.

The longwall launch follows the startup of another new longwall at the VI Lenina underground mine in August.

“The longwall 3-1-11 with estimated coking coal reserves of 3.5 Mt is equipped with the newest mining machines acquired as part of Mechel’s investment program. Its planned monthly output is 90,000 t,” Mechel Mining Management OOO’s Chief Executive Officer, Igor Khafizov, said.