The Russian mining and steel producing group Mechel has announced the temporary suspension of mining operations at its New-Olzherasskaya Underground mine, a part of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company, due to coal self-heating in the long wall face No. 21-1-7.
Southern Kuzbass experts have put measures in place to prevent possible negative consequences of the self-heating and have isolated the self-heating center. According to the preliminary estimates, it may take up to six months to eliminate the effects of the incident.
The company said that the suspension of the mine will not cause delay in coal deliveries to customers since there is enough coal at the New-Olzherasskaya Underground mine warehouse. Coal from the warehouse together with coal from Olzherasskiy Open Pit is washed by Kuzbasskaya Coal Washing Plant and delivered to customers.
New-Olzherasskaya Underground mine was commissioned in late September 2006 and produces coal of GZhO grade. The long wall face No. 21-1-7, with a length of about 200 meters, was launched at the beginning of May 2010. Its coal reserves amount to three million mt.