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The pioneers from Pniówek

23 meters ... that is the actual depth of the reservoir built on the level - 830 in Pniówek coal mine. It would not be something unusual, for the mine already has one underground reservoir, but it is the construction that makes the difference. This time the roadheader is used to drill a vertical excavation specially designed by FAMUR. This is pioneering venture in Polish and European mining industry.

[Translate to English:] fot. Dawid Lach


Standard Methods for the construction of reservoirs are about making a gap of several meters by blasting, collecting the blasted material and erecting the lining of concrete. The use of innovative solutions is the guarantee that the construction of the existing tank will not be affected and the space between the elements will be completely filled with the concrete.

Newly-built reservoir is at the level of -830. Its construction is conducted by PPG ROW JAS employees under the supervision of the foreman Piotr Ogrodnik. The entire building makes a great impression .. The reservoir target will be 30 meters deep together with the feeding cone and a diameter of 10 meters. It will have a total capacity of 2,000 cubic meters to hold excavated material. It is easy to imagine. That is the average height of 10-storey block of flats.

Employees get to the tank using the ladder. The entrance to the reservoir requires a good shape as during the operation they reach the inside of the reservoir several times. The mud is everywhere, but as they point out - it's better than dust, which impedes the job.

-The second tank will improve the system of transportation of excavated material - says Eng. Grzegorz Brudny, the head of Rock bursts, Rock Mechanics and the Mine Construction at Pniówek. - What distinguishes this tank is the way of drilling and the permanent support,  its assembly in particular. While the use of ready-made concrete segments can be considered as   standard, then the mere assembly to the bottom of the tank in this case is exceptional. To enable fixing the elements of the permanent support to the bottom, it was necessary to excavate the entire depth of the tank to such dimensions that it enables  further construction of concrete - explains Grzegorz Brudny.

Currently, the reservoir is around 23 meters deep. After reaching 30 meters, assembly of support is planned. By the time concrete segments are  built, the the rock mass is secured with a steel mesh anchored with the bolts.

Completion of the investment is planned for the end of March 2016.