Russian Copper Company is making headway at some of its key underground operations. First, the Aleksandrinskaya Mining Company (AGK) JSC in Chelyabinsk Region, has expanded the fleet at the Chebachiy mine. The enterprise received an Epiroc Minetruck MT2200 underground truck and a Sandvik DD311-40C drilling rig for tunnelling operations.
The Minetruck MT2200 dump truck is articulated, which allows it to quickly move heavy loads in small and medium-sized workings. It has a carrying capacity of 22 t and the ability to work on slopes at high speed. Such parameters provide fast and efficient transportation of rock mass from mine workings to the surface stockpile. In addition to improved technical characteristics, the new dump truck is equipped with a rear-view camera, powerful compression engine brakes, automatic locks and warning lights. The Minetruck MT2200 also has a number of features to ensure operator safety. The machine has a protected glass-enclosed cabin with soundproofing and a temperature and air quality control system.
The Sandvik DD311-40C electro-hydraulic drilling rig is designed for fast and accurate excavation of mine workings. The control system ensures high drilling accuracy and productivity, and the compact chassis makes it easy to manoeuvre even in small workings. For the operator’s safety, the unit is equipped with a reliable cab.
Today, the Chebachiy mine’s underground equipment fleet numbers about three dozen different machines: drilling rigs, LHDs of various carrying capacities, mine dump trucks, mixers, hoists, etc. The Alexandrinsky Mining Company was founded in 1995. It specialises in the extraction and primary processing of copper and copper-zinc ores for the production of copper and zinc concentrates. The company is one of the main employers in the Nagaybaksky and Verkhneuralsky districts of the Chelyabinsk region.
The Chebachiy mine was commissioned in 2013. Its production capacity is 800,000 t/y of ore. The development of the very first – the 300 horizon has already been completed. Now the main mining operations are being carried out at the levels of 335, 365 and 400 m. In 2018, construction began on the lowest, fifth horizon at the mine. It will be located at a depth of 420 m. Ore mining there will begin in 2023.
ORMET JSC in Orsk, Orenburg Region, has completed the capital work of the third stage of the construction of the Dzhusinsky mine as part of the project for the underground development of the deposit. Since February 2018, miners have excavated and secured 38,500 m3 of workings, carried out the necessary communications and installed equipment. Simultaneously with the installation work at the site, the company launched the construction of the lower horizon of the underground mine. Equipment at the mine includes 6.8 t class Caterpillar R1300G LHDs and MOAZ brand 75291 22 t capacity underground trucks, which are produced by BELAZ.
According to the project, the new production site will be located at a depth of 555 m. The commissioning of the last, fourth stage is scheduled for 2022. During construction, special attention was paid to ensuring industrial safety. The mine is equipped with a personnel positioning system, which allows monitoring of the location of workers in existing mine workings and ensures good communication.
To date, the total volume of completed mining capital works at the facility has reached 190,000 m3. The enterprise’s investments in the project exceeded RUB3 billion. At the same time, the design volumes of production at the Dzhusinsky mine – 220 thousand tons of ore per year – were achieved with the commissioning of the second stage of construction. Together with the ore from the Vesenneye deposit, this allows for a stable utilisation of the facilities of the plant’s enrichment plant. 
From 2004 to 2013, the Dzhusinskoye deposit was mined in an open pit with a capacity of 800,000 t of ore per year. Over that entire period, more than 7.1 Mt of ore have been mined at the deposit. In 2013, for the rational development of reserves, the construction of an underground mine began simultaneously with open pit mining. Operational reserves for underground mining exceed 1.7 Mt. Development of the deposit will last until 2025.
