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Volume 270 • Number 1 January-February 2022
Volume 270 • Number 1 • January-February 2022
Tradelink Publications Ltd
Publishing, Printing & Website Services for the Mining Industry
CONTENTS
4 News, Plant and Equipment
Features
MINING & QUARRY 14 Powerful presence
WORLD 20 Solar energy in the Mining Industry
Strata control in underground coal
26
mines
2022 42 Study on safety and efficient production
in china coal mines
48 Coal exploration and drilling
Editorial Programme
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NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Keestrack is ready for the future 100 to 250 t / Komatsu and PIMS Group work together to extend life of mines
h. According to
Powering electric plug in worldwide turnover by 20%, Keestrack, the A new agreement between Komatsu machines is due
driven crushers & screens which goes hand in hand system offers Komatsu, a global mining in mid-2022 to coincide with
via the grid or by one with the expansion of its own also lower wear, equipment manufacturer, PIMS Group’s conversion
engine unit workforce of currently more better quality of and PIMS Group, a North of the Mavis Downs site
than 1000 employees and the end products Queensland mining services to underground operation,
Despite significant the international distribution (grain shape) and operator, could help set a which will be followed soon
international restrictions network with more than 116 significant energy benchmark for extending the after by conversion of the
caused by the corona dealers and service partners savings in typical life of multiple Queensland Millennium site.
pandemic, Keestrack Group in 100 countries. applications coal mines. Millennium and Mavis
looks back on an overall (eg. sand PIMS Group was recently Downs are owned by
satisfactory business year. Evolution production awarded a five-year contract MetRes, a 50:50 joint venture
Positive feedback from One of the key products that 0/4 mm: to convert the idled open between Queensland miners
distributors and many new Keestrack will be presenting approx. -30% cut Millennium and Mavis Stanmore Resources and
products announced for the in 2022 is the completely compared to Downs coal mines, west M Resources. M Mining, a According to MetRes the switch to underground
future indicate a sustainable new designed Keestrack I4e cone crushers; of Mackay, Queensland, to subsidiary of M Resources, Chairperson Matt operations. With underground
improvement in business for tracked mobile reversible -30 to -40% an underground operation, is the joint venture manager Latimore, a partnership activity, Millennium and
the coming year. impact crusher. Thanks to the compared to which could ultimately result and operator. and risk-sharing approach, Mavis Downs share a current
"Keestrack was effected, innovative RIC (Reversible VSI impact in an estimated 1.2 million Rob Rogers, Vice together with the potential predicted additional mine life
just like many other Impact Crusher) technology, crushers). This tonnes of incremental President of Underground for substantial local of 12 years, producing 13.9
international manufacturers this machine can be used is also due to coal extraction each year. Soft Rock for Komatsu in employment opportunities, million tonnes of metallurgical
of construction machinery very flexible in the secondary the advanced even bigger (depending on Komatsu will sell PIMS Australasia, said the success had been paramount in coal.
with the effects of the corona crushing of rock and diesel-electric drive concept of the local electricity price) Group new mining equipment of the three-way venture PIMS Group winning its bid PIMS’ contract with the
pandemic," says Marcel recycling building materials the compact system (transport as both operational costs for the project, and will with PIMS Group and to operate the infrastructure mines’ owners is the largest
Kerkhofs, Marketing Manager (eg. Asphalt). The specific dimensions: 15.05 m x 3.00 m and maintenance cost will provide a comprehensive MetRes depended on total of both mines. undertaken by the North
at the Belgian headquarters design of the reversible x 3.23 m), weighing 41 tonnes decrease drastically. To maintenance, parts, rebuild confidence of each partner MetRes has initially Queensland group. It is
of the Keestrack Group. horizontal impact crusher including the single-deck after fully exploit this potential, and engineering support to reliably deliver in its area worked to reopen the mines seen as the forerunner for
"However we are very with a large variable crushing screen with return conveyor. Keestrack offers today service to ensure the of expertise. Rogers said using auger and open cut extending the operating
positive and optimistic chamber, powerful rotor (Ø As with other Keestrack large besides the e-driven companies’ joint objectives the arrangement aligns well methods, with production of life and remediation of
about the future, as we 1100 mm; 4 blow bars) and crushers (Cone crushers equipment also the tracked are effectively supported. with Komatsu’s focus on first coal already achieved aboveground sites which
keep on innovating and electronically monitored H4e / H6e/H7e, Jaw crusher engine units. With these Komatsu will provide ‘creating value together’, an in September 2021. have so far been presumed
introducing new products hydraulic gap adjustment B7e), the drive unit with 447 tracked engine/generator a full-time preventative initiative intended to secure According to MetRes, to be near the end of their
onto the market. Keestrack (+80 to -220 mm with new kW diesel engine and 300 units several electric maintenance team at the long-term customer solutions, underground expansion will productive life.
keeps focussing on mobile tools) allows feed sizes of kVa generator is designed machines can be powered. mine sites to help maximise particularly to the benefit of be economically achieved PIMS Group Chief
electric-plug in and hybrid up to 250 mm and ensures as a removable drop-off As the e-driven Keestrack the operation of the eight society and communities. through the mines’ existing Executive Richard Mills sees
driven crushers and screens consistently high-quality end module. Electric drives for the equipment can be used, pieces of equipment now The MetRes rejuvenation highwalls, yielding low-ash, this operating model being
to reduce emissions and products of up to 0/2 mm in crusher (160 kW), feeders either plugged in to the grid, on order, including two alone has the potential high-quality metallurgical utilised throughout existing
operating costs." closed circuit. Secondary and conveyor belts as well as or by the Engine unit with on 12CM27 continuous miners, to create up to 100 mine coal used in the production of Queensland coal operations,
In 2022 we will be - once and tertiary crushing can the system hydraulics enable board gen-set, Keestrack first four 10SC32 shuttle cars, construction jobs and result steel globally. providing substantial
more – expanding our be now combined in one particularly cost-efficient introduced since a few years one feeder breaker and one in more than 125 direct full- Rehabilitation of the open economic and employment
range to include important highly mobile solution, which and emission-free plug-in the drop off module (diesel multibolter. Delivery of the time mining jobs. cut sites will coincide with benefits.
additional machine solutions makes the Keestrack I4e network operation. Three engine with integrated gen-
and completely new product a real alternative to mobile specific patents illustrate the set). Which could already feed
lines, ”says Frederik cone crushers or vertical innovative potential of the new several e-driven machines. Protest against closures in Orakzai
Hoogendoorn, Managing impact crushers, especially Keestrack I4e concept. One step further is the
Director. The family-run with regard to its outstanding introduction of tracked Residents staged a protest Ghulam Habib, Zarmela ban on coalmining. So they the district administration to
group expects to increase its production capacities from Save by combining engine/generator units. against the closure of Khan, Malang Jan, could earn a living for their settle the boundary dispute
Compared to conventional These supply connected coalmines in Ublan area Muhammad Mir, Malik families. between the Muhammadzai
diesel-hydraulic units, diesel- Keestrack crushers, in lower part of Orakzai Asharaf, Malik Yousaf and The elders also asked and Bezotkhel tribes.
electric driven plants directly screeners and stackers and asked the district others said that assistant
save up to 40% of fuel. directly with electricity in administration to lift ban on commissioner Lower Orakzai
While working in production case there is no plug in coal mining forthwith. had sealed the leased
trains, the attributable fuel connection from the grid The residents belonging coalmines of Bezotkhel
consumption may even available. This way the to the Bezotkhel tribe in the tribe in Ublan area without
decrease by 70% when economic advantages of the lower part of Orakzai tribal assigning any reason.
the hybrid screeners are complete production train will district said that it was beyond They said that it was
powered directly via the plug- rise to its full potential and understanding as to why the an injustice with the local
out supply of an upstream or when looking into the future district administration imposed residents, which would be
downstream diesel-electric Keestrack mobile crushers a ban on coal mining. resisted at all costs.
crusher. When plugged and screens can be sold Addressing the protestors, They urged the district
in to the grid savings are even without an engine unit. elders including Malik administration to lift the
4 Coal International • January-February 2022 Coal International • January-February 2022 5
NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Germany lays a path for quitting, but the US may not follow investments and industrial after the departure of Compounding impacts those communities could
policies are “central aspects” Chancellor Angela Merkel The solutions will differ tap for infrastructure
In the coal heartland that makes 2038 the final conceive of such a thing faces collapse following of Germany’s approach. last month. by place, and Germany investments, environmental
of Germany stands a year for coal use. Now there happening in this country,” Manchin’s announcement of As part of the earlier That’s creating concerns has put an emphasis on remediation and community
monument to the source of are plans to reach that goal he said. opposition last month. phaseout plan, German about fairness for miners. tailoring solutions to local development.
its economic might: a giant by 2030. Anderson was part of “There are a couple of lawmakers passed “It is necessary that communities based on their But much more will be
mine more than a half-mile Germany’s coal transition a small group of union really important pieces in legislation setting aside the new government input. needed.
deep that once produced the has focused on providing representatives and the ‘Build Back Better Act’ more than €40 billion ($45.2 gives a clear sign that no The same will be needed Boone County, W.Va., was
largest amount of coal in the economic support to advocates from the US that that would really, really help billion) over the next two one is left behind,” said in the US once the highest-producing
world. workers and coal-dependent visited Germany in 2020 to communities and workers,” decades to help areas that Frederik Moch, head of the In one area, outdoor coal county in the state.
Built at the beginning of regions. It has helped build see how that country was said Richardson, who has will lose jobs and income as department for structural recreation may be the best It saw a sharp decrease
the Industrial Revolution, the up other industries and handling its coal transition. roots in West Virginia’s coal coal dries up. policy, industry and services answer. In another it may in production more than
Zollverein mine cemented diversify regional economies They visited mine sites and mining towns. “It’s really a “That’s the benefit of a at the German Trade Union be manufacturing for clean a decade ago. Jobs and
Germany’s place as a coal to provide jobs as coal reclamation areas, and met tragedy that it’s in jeopardy.” well-managed transition Confederation. energy components, said tax revenue followed. The
behemoth. And its legendary disappears. with affected communities. process, because then Just before the new Richardson of the Union of sheriff’s office is now facing
Shaft XII was hailed as a That framework was Anderson said they ‘This won’t work’ you don’t only look at government took office in Concerned Scientists. a staff shortage due to
feat of technology due to its developed by disparate brought that information Germany’s coal exit is merely replacing the jobs December, it released a “It’s just figuring out the budget cuts.
high level of automation. voices who came home and started baking it still underway. Its initial in coal with other jobs, governing plan stating that kinds of things that can “There is this
By 1986, however, it had together to negotiate the into policy documents aimed phase focused on what but you really take this as no one will be left without connect these communities compounding impact,
become more expensive transition. Trade unions, at emulating what Germany it terms “hard coal,” the an opportunity to further a job due to the coal to what the new opportunities not only to the workers
to extract coal in Germany environmentalists, coal was doing. type typically mined in US develop an entire region phaseout and no additional are – and that has to be themselves but to the
than to import it from places executives and lawmakers An analysis UWUA coal states like Wyoming and provide better public compensation will be paid to place-based,” he said. communities and the regions
like Russia and the United agreed to the phaseout. published with the Union of and West Virginia for use services, provide more companies. There are provisions in where they are situated,”
States. The mine was It was a hard-fought Concerned Scientists last in industry and electricity green spaces, make it more It also aims to expand the infrastructure bill passed said Jessica Eckdish, vice
decommissioned, and the compromise. May argued that the Biden generation. attractive for tourism and renewable energy capacity by Congress in November president of legislation
facility was eventually turned Environmental activists administration would need The last hard coal mine the people living there,” said from half at present to 80% that could help by carving and federal affairs at
into a cultural center. said the phase-out date was to invest up to $83 billion closed in 2018, but lignite Rebekka Popp, a policy of the power mix by 2030. out money for broadband the BlueGreen Alliance,
Now Zollverein stands too late, while other critics over the next 15 years to or “brown coal,” a type of adviser at E3G in Berlin. “We can’t replace 25,000 internet expansion or which organized the trip to
as a sprawling museum said too much compensation support coal workers and wet coal that emits far more Germany’s strong labor workers in coal with new reclaiming and redeveloping Germany in 2020.
complex for coal’s history was going to the companies communities as the country carbon dioxide when burned, laws and social safety net jobs in the renewables abandoned mine land. “The reason to make
and is a dedicated UNESCO that had caused the problem shifts to a low-carbon will continue to be mined have also helped ease sector in these regions. The Biden administration those investments now is
World Heritage site. The to begin with. economy. until the end of this decade, the transition by ensuring This won’t work. So it is also created an interagency to support the workers and
iconic image of Shaft It could be harder for the It called for five years when Germany will end coal workers get unemployment a question of what other working group to help communities where this
XII’s pithead is scattered United States to navigate a of wage replacement for use entirely, according to a benefits, retain health care, industries, other areas can revitalize coal and power is happening now, but to
throughout the city of Essen similar path, particularly with displaced workers, and proposal by Germany’s new have access to vocational develop and build up new plant communities. It try and get ahead of those
as an unofficial trademark of President Biden’s signature continued health care government. training and job placement value chains there,” said has identified $45 billion impacts down the line as
the Ruhr region. climate legislation set to coverage and education Coal generates about centers, and can opt for Moch. in federal funding that well.”
The transformation of collapse under opposition benefits for workers and a quarter of Germany’s early retirement.
this region remains a work from coal-state Sen. Joe their children. The idea was electricity, down from half That’s something the
in progress. But it is often Manchin (D-W.Va.). that more support and better at the turn of the century, United States could struggle
held up as an example of “Germany has a lot of planning could ease the pain and employs around 25,000 to replicate.
how a country that has built built-in advantages over of an impending coal exit. people directly, according “Realizing that you need to
its fortunes on the world’s the United States because “The transition is to the German Trade Union plan ahead and need to plan
most polluting fossil fuel can of the social and economic happening. It’s just Confederation. for a future with less coal
untangle its addiction. choices they made after the happening haphazardly and The US has also seen or without coal, that really
For the United States, the end of [World War II],” said without foresight and without its reliance on coal-fired helps,” said Timon Wehnert,
model here offers lessons Lee Anderson, government thought, and that is the most power fall to about 20% of a senior researcher at the
for transitioning to clean affairs director for the Utility difficult way to approach the energy mix with 28% of Wuppertal Institute in Berlin.
energy. But two pillars of Workers Union of America it, from a community current capacity set to be A phaseout is necessary
the Germany experience – (UWUA). perspective, but especially retired by 2035, according if countries are to meet
money and planning – seem “When we learned that for the workers,” said Jeremy to the Energy Information increasingly ambitious
increasingly out of reach as their government had Richardson, a former senior Administration. The mining climate goals. Under the
climate policy unravels in brought together all of the energy analyst at Union of industry now employs Biden administration, the US
Washington. suspects – industry, labor, Concerned Scientists. around 40,000 workers. aims to slash its emissions
communities – and spent The proposals in the But Germany has been in half by 2030. Germany’s
Planning for an exit something like 18 months analysis were crafted into more willing to pour money target is a 65% reduction.
Germany remains the largest putting together a national legislation that made their into the transition. But Germany won’t be
coal consumer and producer plan that covered how they way into negotiations on A case study by able to hit that mark without
in Europe, despite its plans were going to phase out the reconciliation package, Resources for the Future accelerating its coal phase-
to reach net-zero emissions coal over the course of two said Anderson. The $1.7 and the Environmental out date from 2038 to
by midcentury. In 2020, the decades, the American trillion package, known as Defense Fund says 2030. The new government
government enacted a law imagination fails. You can’t the “Build Back Better Act,” large-scale government proposed that new timeline
6 Coal International • January-February 2022 Coal International • January-February 2022 7
NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Adani Group to ship first cargo from Australia
Adani Group is preparing Terminal in Bowen ready It shrank the mine plan in Great Barrier Reef, both
to ship the first coal cargo for export as planned,” a 2018 to 10 million tonnes a from global warming and
from Australia’s most spokesperson for Adani’s year following a sustained dredging at Abbot Point
controversial mine, after Australian subsidiary “Stop Adani” campaign by port, brought several cases
battling a seven-year Bravus Mining & Resources green groups which scared challenging government
campaign by climate said in a statement. The off lenders, insurers and approvals for the mine.
activists and defying a global statement did not say where major engineering firms. Their campaign turned into
push away from fossil fuels. the shipment was headed, “That sharpening of the a lightning rod at Australia’s
The Carmichael mine in except that “we have already plan has kept operating last election in 2019, in a
outback Queensland state secured the market for the costs to a minimum and jobs versus the environment
is likely to be the last new 10 million tonnes per annum ensured the project remains fight which saw the coal-
thermal coal mine to be of coal that will be produced within the first quartile of the supporting conservative
built in Australia, the world’s at the Carmichael Mine”. global cost curve,” Adani’s coalition government
biggest coal exporter, but When Adani bought Australian CEO Lucas Dow re-elected when it was
will be a vital source of the project in 2010, it told Reuters in emailed expected to lose.
supply for importers such as envisioned building a comments. While activists
power plants in India. 60-million-tonne-a-year The company has not succeeded in delaying the
“The first shipment of mine with a 400km rail line disclosed the cost of the project for seven years
high-quality coal from for around $16 billion , one smaller mine and a 200km and even leading Adani
the Carmichael mine is of several projects planned rail line it built tying into to change its local name
being assembled at the in the then untapped Galilee an existing railway, but the to Bravus, they are not
North Queensland Export Basin. project has been estimated claiming victory.
at $2 billion. “It’s a shame that the
“It is quite a celebration mine’s still going to go
because this is going to ahead. But just because the
be the last true greenfield mine’s open doesn’t mean
thermal coal mine in all the coal in the ground is
Australia,” said Lloyd going to come out. We will
Hain, managing director of continue to campaign to
consulting firm AME Group. keep as much in the ground
Reinforcing
Climate activists, as possible,” said Andy
concerned about carbon Paine, who chained himself
emissions and potential to Adani’s rail line several
damage to Australia’s weeks ago.
Romania’s production increased by 17.5% in the first 11
months of 2021
Safety And Quality
Romania’s net coal coal production for 2021 at Optimal Scenario chosen TWh and will have a share
production in the first 11 3,020 million toe, up 9.9% show that coal energy will of 20.6%.
months of 2021 totalled on 2020, and imports of decrease slightly to 15.8
2,958 million tonnes of 370,000 toe, down 12.1%.
oil equivalent(toe), 17.5% For 2022, the CNSP
(440,800 toe) higher than forecasts production of
in the same period in 2,935 million toe, down
2020, according to data 2.8%, and imports of
centralized by the National 270,000 toe, down 27%.
Institute of Statistics (INS). According to the National
During the period, Energy Strategy, total coal
Romania imported 440,600 production will decrease
toe of net coal, 38,700 from 32 TWh in 2030 to
toe (9.6%) more than the 12 TWh in 2050, continuing
amount imported last year the trend of decreasing coal
in the same period. in the energy mix (45 TWh A global manufacturer with ISO 9001:2015 accreditation, we design,
The National Strategy in 2020). test and produce high quality products with full international approvals.
and Forecasting For the year 2030, the Our products are proven in applications worldwide, so you can trust
Commission estimated modeling results in the them to protect your people, and your investments. dsiunderground.com
8 Coal International • January-February 2022
NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Coal is still king Oracle teams up with Sui Southern Gas Company
For all the talk about the London-listed Oracle would be integrated into jointly look to unlock the Upon successful completion
demise of coal, it’s important Power has signed a non- SSGC's transmission and value of this strategic of feasibility studies,
to note that coal generated binding memorandum of distribution network which resource for the benefit they intend to negotiate
35% of the world’s electricity understanding (MoU) with delivers indigenous natural of all stakeholders and in and enter into definitive
in 2020, more than any other Pakistan’s Sui Southern gas and regasified LNG to accordance with national agreements for the sale and
fuel. Even in the US, coal Gas Co (SSGC) to develop domestic, commercial and demand,” he added. purchase of syngas and
was expected to generate a synthetic natural gas industrial consumers. The companies expect evaluate any possibility of
23% of the nation’s electricity (syngas) project utilising "Our Thar Block VI project the feasibility studies to investment and support by
in 2021 – up from 19% in coal from Thar, the is an asset with immense be completed by Q4 2022. SSGC in the syngas project.
2020. company said. potential value for Pakistan,
In addition to electricity The MoU establishes particularly in the context of
generation, coal is critical for the basis for Oracle and natural gas shortages and
industry, making the cement, SSGC to explore and carry the intense price pressures
iron, and steel needed for out feasibility studies for associated with the import
modern civilization, including the potential development, of LNG,” Oracle CEO
even wind turbines and Though it has just 13% of the coal. The nation is one of necessary. That includes owning, operating and sale Naheed Memon said.
solar panels. Without coal, world’s coal reserves, China the top 10 coal producers more than tripling its current of syngas from Thar coal to “We look forward to
the industrial revolution generates more than 60% of in the world and has spent pace of renewable energy the Pakistani state-owned updating the market further
would not have occurred. its electricity from coal. India, the equivalent of 6% of installations. According to company. with the development
Without coal, a carbon-free with 10% of the world’s coal its annual gross domestic China’s Premier Li Keqiang, Syngas produced of these studies as we
energy transition – forced reserves, generates more product on two huge coal- China cannot easily pivot
or otherwise – is simply than 70% of its electricity fired power plants that will away from coal until it has
unrealistic. from coal. Similarly, Poland, become fully operational enough other alternatives to Georgia’s imports from Majority of promised aid is yet
in the coming years. It is ensure reliable power. He
Kazakhstan triple to reach German regions
Coal supplies the world the second-largest coal
with 27% of its total energy producer in Europe (behind the most coal-dependent hinted that even his country’s
needs, second only to oil Germany), generates 74% of country in the Group of 20, pledge to cap its carbon
(which supplies 31%). China its electricity from coal. Even or G20, major economies. At dioxide emissions by 2030 Georgia’s coal and coal of 2021, following after: Only a fraction of the "submitted and confirmed"
and India alone consumed Japan generates 30% of its COP26, the US, Germany, could be torn up sooner products imports from promised financial aid for within the financial aid
66% of the world’s coal in electricity from coal and has France, the UK, and the rather than later. Kazakhstan from January • Russia ($7.2 million) coal regions has been framework. However, only
2020, and coal supplies no plans to phase it out any European Union all pledged These are examples of through November 2021 • while Turkey ranked 3rd distributed, triggering 13 projects which will reach
at least 55% of their total time soon. to mobilize $8.5 billion over the benefits of affordable amounted to $719,030, ($576 890) worries that a just a volume of 96.6 million
energy needs. the next three to five years and reliable coal power, and which is an increase of transition is being put at euros, have so far begun.
COP26 Framework to help South Africa replace the likely costs to transition 205.9 %, compared to Georgia’s coal and coal risk, reports newswire Dietmar Bartsch, co-chair
Coal Generation At the recent United Nations coal with renewable energy away from it. Much of what $235,010 over the same products import from dpa in an article carried of Die Linke, called for the
In the US, coal is regaining climate conference in and find new livelihoods for gets reported in the news, or period of 2020, Trend January through November by WirtschaftsWoche process to be speeded
market share from natural Scotland (COP26), US mining communities. South hyped by climate alarmism reports via the National 2021 amounted to $8.6 magazine. The federal up in order to ensure
gas, whose generation is Special Climate Envoy John Africa, however, said it needs about coal, is simply wrong. Statistics Office (Geostat). million, which is a decrease government has earmarked coal-producing regions,
expected to drop to 36% in Kerry boasted that the US more than $26 billion from Until technologies that haven’t The volume of coal and of 36.2 %, compared to a total of 40 billion euros for particularly those in the
2021 from 39% the year prior. will end the use of coal-fired wealthy nations to transition even been dreamed of yet coal products imports from $13.5 million over the same assisting the coal exit, of east, are not left behind.
Incidentally, coal’s increased power by 2030. Fortunately, its power system from coal to come along, an affordable, Kazakhstan in the reporting period of 2020. which 26 billion are going "If not even five million
generation from July 2020 to Kerry has been wrong more renewables. predictable baseload future period of 2021 also Georgia depends on to be direct investments euros actually flow out of
July 2021 is four times larger often than he has been Also, at COP26, China, led by cleaner-burning coal increased by 28.4 % – from imports for all its natural by the federal government the federal budget in 2021,
than that of wind and solar right, and he has no actual India, and other developing is preferable to a wildly 2,490 tons over the same gas, oil is imported mainly and 14 billion euros will be then we will experience
generation combined for the authority with respect to economies demanded that expensive, unrealistic carbon- period of 2020 to 3,198 in the form of refined oil paid out as financial aid the worst possible start
same period. power generation. wealthy nations pay them free future. In other words, the tons. products (diesel, 40.7%, to coal-producing states to the structural change,"
US electricity generators India was quick to point $1.3 trillion annually for rumours of coal’s death have Thus, Kazakhstan ranked and gasoline, 40.4%). that are set to lose jobs he said. "Whoever wants
are returning to coal because out that providing their climate projects starting been greatly exaggerated. 2nd among main coal and The energy mix is and industry. However, an to get out of coal by 2030
they have the existing citizens with affordable and in 2030, half of which Thomas J. Pyle is the coal products exporters to relatively diverse compared information request to the must manage the structural
plant capacity and it is an reliable energy requires the would be dedicated to president of the Institute for Georgia over 1st 11 months with other countries in the government by the Left change and create the
abundant, affordable, and continued use of coal, and subsidizing renewable Energy Research, an energy region. Party revealed that only necessary jobs by 2030."
reliable domestic source of successfully urged other energy in the developing think-tank, and the American In 2019, natural gas was 4.8 million euros were Germany's new
electricity. The US is blessed nations to commit to slowing world, with the other half Energy Alliance, a not-for-profit the 1st fuel in the energy distributed in 2021, less government has pledged
with the largest share of the coal power generation, rather earmarked for protecting that engages in grassroots mix (45.4%), followed by oil than 1% of the budgeted to pull forward the coal exit
world’s coal reserves (23%), than deliberately transitioning other countries from the public policy advocacy and (27%), renewables (20.4%) amount of 508 million "ideally" to 2030 from its
eclipsing second-place away from it. effects of global warming. debate concerning energy and and coal (4.7%). euros. current 2038 target date.
Russia (15%) and third-place India is not alone in that For China to achieve its environmental policies at both The share of renewable According to the ministry The plans have triggered
Australia (14%). sentiment. South Africa net-zero emissions targets the state and national level. He sources in Georgia’s for the economy and fears in affected regions
Around the world, coal gets more than 80% of its in 2060, investments of as served as head of transition for electricity mix is among the climate (BMWK), a total of that jobs in the coal
is still the dominant source electricity and nearly one- much as $2 trillion a year energy under President Donald highest in the world (74.7% 251 projects costing 4.3 industry can't be replaced
of electricity generation. fifth of its liquid fuel from through 2060 would be J. Trump. in 2020). billion euros have been with new offerings on time.
10 Coal International • January-February 2022 Coal International • January-February 2022 11
NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT NEWS, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Build Back Better is crucial to boost climate action without Glencore insists new mine will
leaving coal miners behind not crush its climate change
Joe Manchin threw a need intentional policies that plans
wrench into discussions of invest in these workers and
the Build Back Better (BBB) communities. Mining giant Glencore west of Rockhampton,
Act by indicating he does not The hundreds of billions says its plan for a new would require a 300-bed
currently support its passage of dollars of investment in metallurgical and thermal accommodation camp,
– imperiling the bill’s future clean energy and climate coalmine in Queensland access road, rail line,
and delaying the urgent actions included in the BBB can be accommodated water supply pipeline, Mechel announces results of this
funding it would provide to bill will be a net win for the within its climate power and communications
support families reeling from economy and American strategy. infrastructure. year’s mining equipment revamp
the COVID-19 pandemic and jobs; the Economic Policy The Anglo-Swiss Environmental activists
take crucial climate action. Institute projects that it will multinational insists its are already gearing up to Mechel, one of the leading Washing Plant installed two
In response, the United support 3.2 million jobs over proposed Valeria coalmine oppose the mine, although Russian mining and metals new centrifuges to eliminate
Mine Workers of America the 10-year budgeting period. generating units – where they health and economic vitality in Queensland will not Glencore is yet to reach a companies, reports that its excessive water from the
(which represents, among The BBB act would ensure will generate local revenue of regions that have borne the upset ambitions for net- final investment decision. mining facilities this year coal concentrate and three
others, West Virginia’s coal that federal investments and serve as a new source brunt of fossil fuel pollution for zero carbon emissions by Lock the Gate received a total of some 270 magnetic roughers. The
miners) issued a statement go to communities that of employment for former decades. 2050. spokeswoman Ellie Smith equipment units, including plant also continued with the
noting BBB would provide disproportionately bear the miners. And it would penalize Further, BBB provisions Glencore is undertaking said the six pit open cut more than 80 large-scale sweeping upgrade of its mud
critical support for workers burden of pollution and those companies if they deny their propose not just to create a range of studies and mine would destroy more machines and assembly pump stock.
as the inevitable decline of that are dependent on the workers the ability to unionize, jobs in the clean energy assessments on Valeria than 10,000 hectares of units. Ninety equipment units,
coal industry jobs continues, fossil fuel sectors that are in thus helping to protect future, but to ensure these to support the state and land near Capella – a key The most sweeping including heavy-duty trucks,
as well as create new decline. workers’ right to organize newly created jobs are high- federal approvals process agricultural region where technical revamps and excavators and a boring rig,
opportunities for jobs in the The Build Back Better bill and collectively advocate for quality, support families and for the project. wheat, sorghum, and beef retrofits involved Southern were bought for Korshunov
clean energy-based economy, includes a range of provisions higher wages, better benefits are accessible to a diverse “The development of are produced. Kuzbass Coal Company, Mining Plant. This equipment
to which the world must that would support miners in and safer working conditions. and growing workforce. any coal project, including The rail line and other which received more than is used to transport ore
transition quickly to prevent West Virginia and beyond. In addition, other To access the full value of Valeria, will take into infrastructure would impact 100 new equipment units, from Korshunovsky Open
the worst impacts from It would give a four-year climate provisions in BBB BBB’s signature, emissions- account Glencore’s climate a further 12,000 hectares, including heavy-duty trucks, pit, mining at Korshunovsky
climate change. extension to a fund through can help disadvantaged reducing tax incentives, change strategy and stated including prime farmland bulldozers and service and Rudnogorsky Open
The U.S. coal industry has which coal companies communities across areas designed to drive the emission reduction targets. and important habitat for at equipment. All automobiles Pits, even in extremely low
been declining for years; over support miners who have historically dependent on deployment of clean energy Glencore has committed least 17 threatened species use an online dispatch temperatures. Korshunov’s
the last decade, market forces contracted black lung fossil fuel production, such and electric vehicles, to reducing emissions or ecological communities, system implemented by washing plant launched new
such as low natural gas disease; without BBB, this as the entire Appalachian employers must meet by 15% by 2026, halving including the koala and Southern Kuzbass Coal pumps as well as a press for
prices and rapidly expanding fund will be cut in half on Jan. region. Examples include wage and apprenticeships emissions by 2035 and greater glider, she said. Company, which ensures curing conveyors. The plant
solar and wind energy (as 1. The BBB act would make investments in improving standards. Specifically, being a net-zero total “If the Morrison and improved performance also received new hydro
well as the expanding use of key investments in fossil fuel water infrastructure to employers must pay emissions business by Palaszczuk governments and work efficiency. The separators.
automation in coal production) communities, including $5 provide clean drinking water, wages that meet or exceed 2050.The Valeria Coal approve this project, new machines take part in “We invested
have turned coal mining into billion for the Department of improving stormwater and a locally determined, Holdings project within they will have no hope transporting overburden, as approximately 4 billion
a shadow of what it once Energy’s Energy Community wastewater infrastructure position-based floor during the Central Highlands is of meeting their stated well as moving coal from rubles into acquiring new
was. At the end of 2020, there Reinvestment Financing (including $225 million to help construction, and in some expected to produce up emissions reduction the mines to the washing mining equipment and
were only 43,180 coal miners Program to support low- families struggling to pay their cases after. They must to 20 million tonnes per targets. That means yet plants and shipping points. mechanisms, and next year
remaining in the United carbon investments in energy water and wastewater bills), also ensure that a certain annum for 35 years. more extreme weather for Southern Kuzbass Coal we plan to invest 8 billion.
States, and communities from communities, and $5 billion for and replacing lead water percentage of total labor The open cut Queenslanders,” she said. Company’s washing plants We are faced with a strategic
West Virginia to Montana the Economic Development service lines. The BBB bill hours support qualified metallurgical and thermal “There is clearly no launched a total of 39 new task to restore stripping
to Kentucky are feeling the Administration to develop also includes environmental apprenticeships. coalmine, 27km northwest justification for approving equipment units. pace, increase mining and
economic pain of coal’s regional economic growth and climate justice block We are already seeing of Emerald and 270km this coal mine.” Yakutugol Holding washing volumes. This new
decline (as well as its lingering clusters and award grants grants that can help clean what the collapse of the coal Company launched 74 new equipment will enable us
pollution). As these workers for economic development in up pollution from shuttered industry looks like when there equipment units, including to reduce outages caused
– many of whose families energy transition communities or abandoned fossil fuel are no protections in place heavy-duty trucks, an by repairs, and boost
have spent years or even and others with a history of sites and create a Clean – but it doesn’t have to be excavator and gondola output at our facilities in
generations in this industry – economic distress. It would Energy and Sustainability this way. Among its massive railcars for transporting loose Irkutsk Region, Yakutia and
look toward the future, they also provide additional tax Accelerator, which will other benefits, passing the cargo. Due to complicated Kuzbass. Considering steady
deserve assurance that they incentives to encourage invest in clean energy BBB act will help manage this geological conditions at demand and favorable price
won’t be abandoned by their the building of clean energy projects across the country essential economic transition Neryungrinsky Open Pit, trends on commodity markets
employers and left with no and advanced energy while delivering 40% of the to create a zero-carbon world this year the company that we see over the past
economic opportunities. manufacturing facilities benefits of investments to – without leaving coal miners made sure to revamp several quarters, it is very
But a transition that in energy communities – disadvantaged communities. and other workers behind. pumping equipment to important for us to ensure
supports fossil workers and including those impacted by These investments are long Dan Lashof is the director pump ground waters and production growth,” Mechel
communities is not going the closure of coal mines overdue and can go a long of World Resources, United prevent flooding at mining PAO’s Chief Executive Officer
to happen on its own. We and coal-fired electricity way to improve the public States. areas. Neryungrinskaya Oleg Korzhov commented.
12 Coal International • January-February 2022 Coal International • January-February 2022 13
WHEEL LOADERS WHEEL LOADERS
Powerful presence
ound on most mining and construction credited for the invention of the first wheel loader in 1954. ~ 4000t, average labour productivity can be increased and there are many large pieces, its work efficiency
F
sites, wheel loaders are one of the most They named it the H10, the inspiration came from a reversed by 50% ~ 100%. will be significantly reduced; it is necessary to loosen
powerful pieces of equipment to be tractor. By the early 1970s larger loaders had been produced the viscous materials before conducting the shovel
found within mining, their significance by Volvo which had a new lift arm system and a safer and 2. The weight of the tire front loader is lighter, which is operation and other Auxiliary work.
and existence within mining has also more comfortable cabin. The industry is constantly evolving, equivalent to 1/8 ~ 1/6 of the quality of the same bucket
led to ongoing development. and new ideas and patents are continually being published. capacity excavator, which saves a lot of steel. The 2. Compared with the excavator, the size of the working
In the period between 1989 and 2014 Yanmar, Komatsu and manufacturing cost is only 1/4 ~ 1/3 of the excavator. mechanism of the front loader is smaller; due to the
Their primary function is for loading Caterpillar had all filed different patents for wheeled loaders. Excavators are cheap, which can reduce investment limitation of safety conditions, it is not suitable to work
or moving materials both above and beneath the surface in production equipment and reduce the proportion of on the working face with a high explosion.
of a mining operation, the required number of loaders In open-pit mines with suitable conditions, the use of fixed assets.
and trucks is a strategic mine planning decision that can wheeled loaders can highlight the following advantages: 3. The tires of the front loader wear quickly and have a
maximise production efficiency and minimise capital and 3. The tire front loader has strong climbing ability and short service life. In recent years, although measures
operational costs. 1. The tire front loader has fast walking speed, short working good manoeuvrability. It can perform loading operations have been added to protect the chain link or use pad
cycle time and high loading efficiency. According to the on the slope working surface that is not allowed by the cushions to reduce tire wear, the tire life is only about
It has been reported by Off-Highway Research that wheel introduction of mine calibration data, the front installed excavator, especially in new mine sites lacking electricity. 1500 hours, and tire costs still account for a substantial
loaders have risen by 75% over the last decade from 1.3 speed of bucket capacity of 5 ~ 8m 3 can reach more proportion of production equipment costs (about 40 % ~
million machines in 2008 to 2.23 million a year in 2017 and than 35km / h, which is 30 ~ 90 times faster than electric 4. The depreciation period of the tire-type front-loading 50%, even as high as 60%).
beyond this figure to our present day. shovel. Each working cycle only takes 40 ~ 45s, and the machine is only 1/4 ~ 1/8 of the excavator. It can be
average production capacity of the shift can reach 3500 replaced with new and more advanced equipment Many years of production practice at home and abroad have
Coal International takes a brief look at after 5-6 years of work, which is convenient for mine proven that wheel loaders are suitable for the following aspects:
the history and recent developments management and maintenance and is conducive to the
of the wheel loader. upgrading of equipment. . 1. It is used for loading, pushing, and discharging, lifting and
traction in the construction of open-pit mines and stripping,
Like many pieces of equipment, it is 5. The tire front loader is easier to operate than the excavator, railway foundation construction and road construction.
hard to articulate who was the clear which can shorten the driver training time. At the same 2. It is used in small and medium-sized open-pit mines
creator of the wheel loader as many time, one loader only needs one driver to operate, which instead of excavators and cars as the main mining,
adaptations similar to what we know can save manpower, material, and financial resources. loading, and transportation equipment of the mine; it
developed from farmers fitting scoops can be operated in conjunction with automobiles and
to their tractors to help move materials. However, compared with the excavator, the front loader can also load ore rocks to crushing stations.
Although it is believed that Ed Wagner also has some disadvantages in production:
& Sons Contractors created the world’s 3. In some large open-pit mines, cooperate with the
first articulated loader in 1936 (called 1. The tire-type front-loader has a lower digging capacity excavator to perform mining and loading operations and
Scoopmobiles), it is Volvo who is than an excavator. When the blasting quality is not good other auxiliary operations under complex conditions
14 Coal International • January-February 2022 Coal International • January-February 2022 15
WHEEL LOADERS WHEEL LOADERS
(such as selective mining, end of working face, scattered First, a mucking position agent learned to predict the most “Building on the success of our world-leading Argus and
pile explosion, excavation of trenches, etc.). efficient position to dig into differently shaped piles. Next, a Pegasys monitoring systems for electric rope shovels,
mucking agent was trained on how to control the vehicle to hydraulic excavators and draglines, Argus WL was
4. It can be used for mining, loading, and transporting fill the bucket at a selected dig position. Finally, the agents developed based on a growing demand from our customers
joints with large slopes to complete difficult mining were trained together. The agent’s policies were represented to improve efficiency, effectiveness and payload accuracy
work. There are two types of common front-loaders, by a feedforward neural network with convolutional layers across their large wheel loader fleets,” he said.
tire-type, and track-type, with their own characteristics. for handling the high-dimensional observation data. The
Although the crawler front loader has large traction and rewards the agents learn to maximize were designed to “Argus WL does this by weighing each bucket in real time,
shovel, superior performance in off-road and climbing, maximize bucket filling with minimal energy consumption without the need to stop and calculate payload before
etc., it has low speed and inflexibility, and sometimes and avoiding collisions and wheel slip. dumping the load. This we understand from our customers
requires a trailer to transfer the operation site, and is an unacceptable practice required from other similar
the construction cost is high. Therefore, track-type The learned policies were able to adapt to previously systems today, losing valuable production time to repeat
front loaders are rarely used in open-pit mines. Wheel unseen pile shapes, achieving a success rate of 99% with this with every bucket load.
loaders are the most commonly used in mines around an average bucket load of 13.2 tonnes. The productivity
the world. Therefore, their production volume is large and energy efficiency were better than the values reported “Argus WL was a natural progression for us, meeting the
and production technology is also developing rapidly. for human operators in the scientific literature, but it industry’s need for a system purpose built for large wheel
The largest bucket capacity has reached 40m3. remains to evaluate if these results transfer to the physical loaders used in mining that would lower production costs,
environment. reduce machine stress and improve safety.”
DEVELOPMENTS OF THE WHEEL LOADER “Talking to our customers, we knew that the best way to
In underground mines, specialized wheel loaders (LHD) WHEEL LOADER MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MINING Pater said the multi-purpose nature of the system was a improve their wheel loader productivity was to empower
are used for loading fragmented rock, hauling the material After 18 months of successful field trials conducted across key point of difference with Argus WL offering advanced their operators with better access to real-time, actionable
through narrow tunnels, and dumping it for further transport three Western Australian mine sites, MineWare has functionality in truck detection, structural monitoring, as information and give them a single platform that integrates
on trucks or hoist systems. The loading task remains launched its Argus Wheel Loader (WL) system well as payload optimisation in real-time. with their existing software,” he said.
a challenge to automate. To fill the bucket efficiently, an
operator, or an artificial intelligent agent, must coordinate This is an OEM independent wheel loader monitoring “The real-time nature of Argus WL really stands our system “Argus WL takes productivity monitoring for wheel loaders
the forward drive, steering, and the bucket’s lift and tilt in system that lifts productivity and reduces cost per tonne in apart as it gives operators direct feedback for them to make to a new level, by working smarter, not harder, to get the job
response to visual cues, and the perceived force resistance real time. smarter loading decisions to optimise truck loading and completed successfully.”
and vehicle motion. payload management,” he said.
Argus WL delivers real-time feedback to the wheel A wheel loader is without doubt the most versatile piece
To test whether deep reinforcement learning is a viable loader operator via an intuitive touchscreen to make “Argus WL guides operators to move the right amount of equipment used in many industries but the task of fully
approach to automating this task, a simulated environment material handling and loading jobs safer, faster, and more of material with every load, helping mines to reduce automating the machines despite the implementation of
was constructed with a 3D multibody model of a loader and accurate. payload variability, meet production targets and predict modern technology has still eluded many experts mainly
narrow drift with virtual piles of fragmented rocks using AGX the operations forecasts more reliably, when analysing due to the complexity of bucket-environment interactions,
Dynamics for Unity and ML-Agents. The vehicle, an Epiroc MineWare Vice President of Marketing and Sales Roy Pater machine productivity by shift and operator.” even three decades of research efforts towards automation
Scooptram ST18, was equipped with a depth camera, and said Argus WL extends MineWare’s portfolio of monitoring of the bucket loading operation have not yet resulted in any
force and motion sensors. A multiagent system was trained systems as customers continue to digitise their operations Developed on an open IoT platform, the interoperable fully autonomous system. Automation of the bucket-filling
using the reinforcement learning algorithm Soft-Actor-Critic and leverage real-time information across more of their system works on any OEM machine and integrates step in the loading cycle of a wheel-loader has been an
and a curriculum setup. ground engaging equipment. seamlessly with third party production software. 1/2 open problem for many years.
Pater said Argus WL leverages MineWare’s 15 years of Despite numerous trials. there still remains key challenges
experience in ground engagement equipment monitoring, in automation and tele-remote operation of earth-moving
productivity improvement and payload optimisation to machines and research seems to be lagging behind. Real-
create a purpose-built system, made for mining. time video transmission over wireless is difficult, but may
16 Coal International • January-February 2022 Coal International • January-February 2022 17
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