This is another step on the way to obtain high-quality coking coal, constantly demanded by the coke industry, in times of market recovery but also economic slowdown. The tender has been settled, agreement with the contractor will be signed later this year.
To reach the most valuable resources of coal type 35 Budryk mine had to deepen the shaft VI and provide access to the new extraction level 1290 m, with about 160 million tons of coal. Another condition for obtaining a high quality product is the modernization of the processing plant, which - despite the fact that it has been working since 1994, has never been fully prepared for coking coal enrichment.
- This mine has a great potential. It was necessary to invest in it and we have been doing it since bringing the mine into the structure of JSW in 2008. Providing resources of the level 1290 will extend the mine longevity by almost 70 years - says Jarosław Zagórowski, CEO of JSW.
Future development and modernization of the processing plant will involve building a second technological system at coal preparation plant. This will allow the collection of excavated material from the southern section of shaft I, the initial classification, selective crushing with the secretion of thick stone, separating of non- carbon pollution and transport of raw coal and its selective storage. Also the coal enrichment unit in water environment is to be rebuilt, which allows for the selective enrichment of coal type 34 and 35, along with the haulage and loading onto rail transportation or storage on the coal storage yard. In addition, to the extent necessary, other technological systems will be updated namely: technological engineering system, measuring, control and protection systems.
The employed solutions aim at independent production of both types of concentrates, as well as increase of the efficiency of the beneficiation, while improving the commercial coal quality.
Replacement of existing screens, so far involved in partial screening of raw sludge, with desludging screens, will allow the enrichment of total raw coal. In addition, modern sediment-sieve centrifuge for dehydration of flotation concentrates and tank-diaphragm presses for dewatering of difficult suspensions (sediments) will significantly increase the efficiency very important for the whole water-slurry technology cycle - explains Andrzej Bajer, deputy director of the mechanical processing and coal quality office of JSW.
Expansion of coal piles unit along with commercial coal tanks, based on the construction of a new haulage line which will allow simultaneous transport of coal, will enable collecting it on the piles and loading into wagons.
Along with the modernization of technology, the construction of dedusting system, will also be introduced. Moreover, projects such as the industrial vacuuming and tanks aeration to improve workers' safety and work comfort are to be introduced.
Engineered systems are controlled from the spot or remotely by a dispatcher. Will also have locks according to the technology of coal preparation plant operation with a warning system in compliance with current legislation.
Performances of the devices have been set so as to ensure smooth and operational reliability of all technology units.