OREANDA-NEWS.   Severstal, one of the world’s leading steel and steel-related mining companies announces the launch of a 18 W capacity gas-reciprocating power plant running on methane ( a coal by-product) at an industrial site of the Severnaya mine, a structural unit of OAO Vorkutaugol, one of the largest coal mining companies in Russia.

Vorkutaugol began improving energy efficiency in 2010. The Severnaya mine was selected as a pilot industrial site for these initiatives and ZVEZDA-Energetika is the contractor. The total project cost was estimated at 1 billion rubles.

The gas-reciprocating power plant is capable of producing 110.5 megawatt/hour of electrical power and more than 56.700 Gcal/hour of thermal power. The major construction works and associated gas parameters make this a unique project in Russia. The Vorkutaugol power plant is expected to operate on methane from the working mine at low gas concentration.

Ivan Tararin, Chief Power Engineer at Vorkutaugol, said: “Extracted methane is transferred to the gas treatment unit by vacuum pumps. It is then transferred directly to gas power engines, which rotate generators that produce electricity. Thereafter, thermal power accumulates for future transportation. The power plant is capable of utilising more than five thousand cubic meters of methane.”

The energy output will be used to heat the air delivered to the mine’s administrative buildings and to support a range of processes. Electrical power is provided to supply surface and underground facilities.

Sergei Yefanov, CEO of Vorkutaugol, commented: “The gas thermal power plant is one of Vorkutaugol’s priority investment projects for improving energy efficiency. The power plant will provide for around 80% of the Severnaya mine’s electrical power needs. Additionally, the project will provide approximately half of the company’s required thermal power. Preliminary calculations suggest that electricity savings at Vorkutaugol will be 12% and heat savings 8%.”

Besides energy efficiency, the gas thermal power plant will have a positive environmental impact by significantly reducing methane emissions. Today, the Severnaya mine utilizes gas not only for its power supply, but also as fuel for its self-contained air heater and for coal drying at the coal preparation plant.