Rostechnadzor suspends several types of operations at Kuzbass coalmines

KEMEROVO. July 13 (Interfax) - Russia's Federal Environmental, Industrial, and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) has suspended tunneling and several other operations at coalmines in the Kemerovo Region, Rostechnadzor head Andrei Vil posted on social media.

Specifically, Rostechnadzor has temporarily halted operation of the main belt entry at the Kostromovskaya coalmine operated by MMK-Ugol LLC, which is controlled by Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) , because the concentration of methane has exceeded the permissible level. The company told Interfax that one of the six drifting faces has ceased operation at the enterprise, though this has not affected the mining of coal.

Rostechnadzor has temporarily stopped operation of the belt entry at the Uskovskaya coalmine operated by PJSC Raspadskaya , which is part of Evraz, owing to "failure to take measures to allow gassing of the mining excavation, as well as non-compliance of the excavation support/walling with the technical documentation". Interfax is still waiting to receive a comment from the company.

Rostechnadzor has also suspended operation of the belt entry and the main air ventilation roadway, as well as operation of the conveyor belt, at the Aliot group's Sibirskaya coalmine owing to the dust-explosive state of the mining excavation, violation of the excavation support/walling, and operation of technical devices in violation of the industrial safety requirements.