Longwall with 2.5 mln tonnes of coking coal launched at Evraz's Uskovskaya mine

KEMEROVO. May 11 (Interfax) - A longwall with reserves of 2.5 million tonnes of coking coal has started up at the Uskovskaya mine of the Raspadskaya Coal Company, which manages Evraz's coal assets, the company's press service said.

There are plans to produce 250,000 tonnes of coal from the new coalface in May and increase to 290,000 tonnes of coal per month in the future.

"Mining of the reserves is being carried out at a depth of 220 meters. The safety of coal extraction is ensured by outgassing in the cave column of the area developed. Two types of in-seam gas drainage are also used: the traditional method and long guided-drilling wells," the press service said.

Hard coking coal is mined at Uskovskaya and supplied to Evraz enterprises, as well as exported to China, South Korea, Vietnam, and other countries of Southeast Asia.