OREANDA-NEWS. Vorkutaugol, one of Russia’s leading coal miners which is part of the Resources Division of OAO Severstal, one of the world’s leading steel and steel-related mining companies, announces that it will build an inclined shaft at its Vorgashorskaya mine till the end of 2013. This new shaft will expand the range of produced coking coal grades with the introduction of grade Zh. Total investment in the project will reach approximately 1.5 bln. rubles.

Construction of the new inclined shaft, designed by experts from the Spb-Giproshakht Design Institute, began in 2013. The new site’s infrastructure and transport links (a new road linking to the active ventilation shaft of mine No. 3) have already been installed and a modular boiler plant has been commissioned.

The new inclined shaft — which will be used to mine coal, transport employees and supplies to tunnels and raise mined rock — will be approximately 405 meters long; the optimum distance from the surface to the coal seam. Around a half of the tunnel — approximately 200 meters — has already been completed. As drivage progresses, the tunnel’s key permanent features are being constructed: arches, sides and floors are being encased in concrete, a diesel-powered track to transport both employees and supplies is being installed as is as a conveyor belt to transport mined raw coal to the surface.

It is anticipated that the coal seam will be reached as early as this autumn. Prior to coal extraction beginning, the preparation of future tunnels will commence, with the southwestern section of the site to be linked to Vorgashorskaya’s general mine tunnels, ensuring efficient and safe levels of ventilation.

Facilities for the new inclined shaft will include a shaft house, electric power substation, coal loading depot, and a coal and timber warehouses. A railroad approximately 6 kilometers long will connect the Vorgashorskaya mine’s main industrial site to the new inclined shaft’s facilities.

Sergey Yefanov, Chief Executive of Vorkutaugol, commented: “This new inclined shaft, which is being newly constructed using leading-edge technology, equipment and materials, will deliver coal extraction processes, including production efficiency and health and safety, in line with global best practices.”

Geological surveys have confirmed that the southwestern section of Vorgashorskaya mine holds Zh grade coking coal. The mine's underground operations are currently primarily focused on its northern section which produces GZhO grade coal suitable for coking. Developing the new southwestern section, where in the future all mining will be focused, will secure the Vorgashorskaya mine’s long term future.

Mikhail Timofeyev, Head of the Vorgashorskaya mine, commented: “Reserves of coking coal in the mine's southwestern section are estimated to be around 12 million tonnes. The coal in this section is of a higher grade — Zh — which is highly valued by steelmakers”.

The initial annual output of raw coal at the new site is expected to be around 2 mln. tonnes, but this could increase over time.

Furthermore, the project has yet another significance for the company. The site will serve as a proving ground to streamline promising techniques of downward inclined shaft sinking. This might as well be essential for further buildup of Vorkutaugol’s capacities.