East (Vostochnaya) Mining Company (EMCO) in Sakhalin, Russia is switching to digital operational radio communications at the company’s key mining asset – the Solntsevsky coal mine. The new system streamlines and unifies the key dispatching processes in the mining and transport complex. EMCO stated: “This allows you to control all key processes in production, collect data on the location of equipment, dispatch actions in case of emergency. The intelligent system helps to collect critical information to prevent emergencies or when responding to emergency situations.”
The system provides not only control of technological processes, but also significantly increases the efficiency of production management. “The company has carried out large-scale testing of the new communication system in real conditions of the production process. The merits of the proposed option were appreciated by all participants. We received high-quality communication without interference, which had a positive effect on all stages of interaction. The implementation of this project will be an important step in increasing the efficiency of mining at the Solntsevsky coal mine,” commented Alexey Sharabarin, Director at Solntsevsky.
At the open pit mine, an optimal solution was applied, consisting of modern walkie-talkies, mobile applications, dispatch and control platforms. This solution provides versatile services including instant one-to-one and one-to-many, full duplex calls. Also, the use of digital communication has expanded the geographic boundaries of interaction. A specialist, brought into the new system, can be anywhere in the world, which was impossible when using analogue communication and the old generation radios. The system also assumes the function of priority of certain persons who control key processes and who are able to contact all participants at any time.
All participants in the production process, including all equipment of the mining and transport complex, are equipped with new radio stations. Installed to date are about 400 sets with the new radio stations distinguished by increased durability, and adaptation to the industrial and climatic conditions of the operation. The project was implemented jointly with Hytera LLC and Russian telecomms major MTS PJSC. This is the first project for Hytera LLC in the Russian market using the Hytera Hytalk PoC solution (radio communication which works through the MTS 4G network). The company has adapted the control and dispatching consoles for EMCO.
As part of the project, MTS PJSC improved the quality of 4G communication for EMCO in the mine territory, including all stages of inspection, design, supply and installation of base stations, auxiliary equipment, commissioning and commissioning of communication systems. In total, two additional container base stations and 10 remote sectors (transmitting antennas) were put into operation on the territory of the mine.
The Solntsevsky coal mine, a key coal mining asset of the East Mining Company, is developing a coal deposit of the same name in the Uglegorsk District of the Sakhalin Region. The field has approved state reserves of over 300 Mt. The product portfolio includes brown and bituminous coals of grades ZB and D. The company employs more than 1,200 people. Solntsevsky coal mine is one of the largest taxpayers and employers in the region.
