There will be more coking coal from KWK Budryk
The second stage of modernization of the coal preparation plant has begun at the Budryk mine. After the work is completed, the mine's coking coal production will increase to 95 percent. The Budryk mine’s coal preparation plant is already one of the most modern in the Polish mining industry.
The first stage of the coal preparation plant's modernization was completed last November. Coking coal production has increased from 35 to 60 percent. JSW's Management Board has decided to implement the second stage, which will allow the mine to produce 95 percent coking coal.
“Over the next three years, the Budryk mine's coal preparation plant will be completely modernized and prepared to produce high-quality coking coal. As a result, we expect to increase production from 60 to 95 percent, and this will improve the performance of the entire Company," says Adam Rozmus, JSW's Vice-President for Technical and Operational Matters. “Importantly, the modernization of the coal preparation plant will not interfere with the coal preparation processes currently underway at the site,” adds Rozmus.
Let’s recall what happened. The first stage included, among other things, the expansion of the coal preparation plant with raw coal storage tanks, which involved the construction of a second haulage line from Shaft I, which enabled the simultaneous collection of the winnings from both compartments of the shaft. This solution made it possible to selectively store both Type 34 and Type 35 coal in raw coal storage tanks. An additional advantage of such a solution is that the two lines for haulage of coal from the coal preparation plant to the raw coal storage tank serve as back up for each other.
According to the assumptions, after the first stage is completed, Type 34 and 35 coal is enriched separately, which makes it possible to produce concentrates of both types, as well as to increase the efficiency of enrichment processes while improving the quality of the commercial coal obtained. After completing the first stage of the modernization, the coal preparation plant has reached a capacity of 30,000 tons of coal per day.
The second stage of modernization of Budryk’s coal preparation involves the expansion and modernization of the flotation unit and closing of the water and slurry circuit. This will require the construction of a new hall and the purchase of more than a dozen specialized machines and equipment, which will then be connected to existing equipment and transport lines.
The second stage of modernization of the Budryk mine's coal preparation plant is expected to be completed in three years.