Over the past years, thanks to the mechanization of underground coal mining, the efficiency of pit coal mining has showed improvements.
In the context of increasingly exhausted day-coal resources, deep coal mining is the only solution to meet the increasing demand for coal. To exploit coal more deeply underground, mechanization will help increase productivity and ensure occupational safety. Therefore, boosting mechanization is currently one of the key strategies in Vinacomin's coal mining operations.
According to statistics released by the Viet Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), mechanization in coal mining activities have clearly improved coal production, the rate of progress in coal exploitation, mine safety and working conditions. Losses during coal exploitation have also fallen from 46 percent in 2002 to only 28 percent in 2011.
A number of advanced technologies have been applied to Vinacomin's production. Since 1999 when the hydraulic excavator first began operations at Khe Cham Coal Mine, this technology has so far been expanded to most of the Group's member companies, helping to reduce the proportion of coal loss, raise coal production by three times to 150,000-200,000 tonnes per year and increase labor productivity by 2.5 to three times.
Another achievement of mechanization in Vinacomin's coal mining activities has been the control and development of technologies to secure gas safety. Following the establishment of the Mine Rescue Centre with well-equipped, advanced devices and a group of professional experts, the coal mining industry has entirely taken control of technologies to ensure explosive gas safety in coal pits.
Vinacomin Deputy Director General Phung Manh Dac said the most important thing in terms of mechanization in underground coal mining, which were hailed at coal mines such as Khe Cham and Vang Danh was the study, application and improvements of machinary and technology that suited real conditions on the ground.
The efficiency of coal mining mechanization was underscored by the success of Nam Mau Coal Company. In 2009, the Mining Science and Technology Institute under Vinacomin teamed up with Nam Mau Coal Company to establish a project to mechanize underground coal mining by Combai continuous mining. After the project was approved in September 2009, the two units organized training courses and instructions to pilot the installation and operation of the mechanized VINAALTA - 2.0/3.15 technology. After it was installed and put into stable operation productivity reached 700-800 tonnes per day (about 210,000-240,000 tonnes per year). As compared with the former mining method, the VINAALTA - 2.0/3.15 technology brought substantial advantages, and reduced worker's direct contact during coal mining process, improved working conditions and helped prevent occupational accidents. In June 2011, the Nam Mau Coal Company officially announced the success of the pilot model and it is expected to increase the company's coal production to 2.5 million tonnes in 2012.
General Director of Vinacomin Le Minh Chuan when talking about the 2012-2015 period with vision to 2020, said that Vinacomin's strategy was to prioritize investment in mechanization. Therefore in the coming time, the Group would continue the application of mechanization in underground coal mining at all of its member units./.
