Deep Underlying Coal Seem

The area of the deposit is situated under the main production layer of exploitation field of mine Suvodol and it spreads over approximately 3 km2. Main mining design for opening and exploitation of this coal reserve was elaborated and geological reserves of 55.000.000 tons of coal were determined out of which there are exploitable reserves of 50.000.000 tons of coal with overburden coefficient 1:4,7 cubic meters for ton. The exploitation technology of the Under-stratum series Suvodol consists of continuous ETS systems with utilization of newly supplied equipment and one system shall be combination of newly supplied equipment and equipment from SM Suvodol which shall be used after completion of coal excavation in the main coal seam. Coal transport which shall be excavated from SM DUS Suvodol shall be made with existing system which is used in mine Suvodol.

Planned annual capacity of around 6,5 million tons of coal, which are necessary for operation of the three units in TPP Bitola, should be obtained with combined excavation and homogenization of coal on three sites: Main coal seam in SM Suvodol, SM Brod Gneotino and SM Deep underlying coal seam. This is, first of all, due to decrease of coal reserves in SM Suvodol and necessity for their completion with coal from other sites respectively coal mines.

MINING EQUIPMENT FOR MINES IN REK „BITOLA”
The surface coal pit mine “Brod – Gneotino” is opened and in phase of exploitation. With the main mining project, since 2006, as exploitation reserves are anticipated around 34.000.000 tons of coal, with previously determined capacity of 2.000.000 tons per year. The excavation of overburden is done in accordance with the main mining project for opening and exploitation of SPM “Brod – Gneotino” with engagement of continuous technology (ETS systems), while excavation of the coal and intermediate seams overburden is done in accordance with the simplified mining project with application of discontinuous technology in other words cyclical mechanization.

For excavation of overburden two bucket wheel excavator type SRs 2000 and three dragline excavators (ES-10/70 and two ES-6/45) are engaged, while, again, the excavation of the coal and intermediate seams overburden is done with discontinuous equipment i.e. with dump trucks and with hydraulic excavators. For the excavation of the coal and intermediate seams overburden in the daily exploitation of open pit “Brod – Gneotino” external firms -contractors were engaged.

With the procurement of the mining equipment the following benefits would be enabled:

  • Extension of the life expectancy of the thermal power plants in REK “Bitola” in the following 15 years, with opening of the coal underlying coal series i.e. the mine “Suvodol”;
  • Reduction of the operating costs during coal excavation from “Brod – Gneotino” through procurement of mechanization for discontinuous coal excavation;
  • Reduction of the operating costs for engagement of support mechanization by external firms – contractors.

 MINING EQUIPMENT FOR MINES IN REK „BITOLA“