The Publicity Approved the Project
14.09.2017
In Ekibastuz the expert group of Ecoline Moscow Center on Environmental Assessment (Ecoline CEA) visited Ekibastuz. The group consisted of Chief Specialist, Work Superintendant Tatyana Laperdina, Expert Tatyana Strizhova, Specialist Anna Kuznetsova. The purpose of the visit of the Russian specialists to our town was the preparation of the environmental and social assessment of the cycle and flow technology (CFT) at Bogatyr coal mine by the requirements of international finance organizations, including the public opinion search on the CFT project implementation.
To remind, the management of Bogatyr Coal LLP spoke on the necessity of the cycle and flow technology introduction for coal mining, crushing, blending and transportation as early as in 2006. In December 2014 the practical steps were taken to implement this important project, particularly a company-partner was determined. The appropriate contract between Bogatyr Coal LLP (the joint venture of JSC Samruk-Energo and United Company RUSAL) and the world lead manufacturer of mining equipment and technologies - ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG company - was concluded on December 22, 2014. According to the contract it was envisaged that ThyssenKrupp would make engineering, manufacture and delivery of equipment, along with rendering services on assembly supervision, start-up and adjustment works and personnel training. It was presupposed to finish the project in 2019. However, the world economic crises prevented to implement scheduled plans, and the project was temporarily suspended. Bogatyr Coal LLP returned to it only now.
The specialists of Bogatyr Coal LLP brought forward a lot of arguments in favor of the cycle and flow technology project implementation. First of all, the project will allow significantly upgrading the existing operations and replacing morally obsolete mining machinery with new equipment. And this, first of all, will increase labor productivity by 25%. Besides, the selected technology envisages the management of coal quality while its stockpiling and shipment from a stockpile to a blending and loading complex. Expenses connected with coal transportation directly in the pit are significantly reduced for account of reduction of railroad transport and introduction of conveyors. At the same time a speed and rate of automation of a loading process will go up. And the introduction of a point of automated loading of rail cars will allow reducing from weighing and dosing works and necessity of taking samples at a coal-collecting station. The modern system of coal quality control will allow satisfying requests of customers.
The representatives of the town administration told the representatives of Ecoline Center of Environmental Assessment on the social component of the cycle and flow technology project and its meaning for the stable work of Bogatyr Coal LLP. By the way, the plans of the cycle and flow technology project implementation received the positive response of the general public of the town. The active members of Environmental Protection Public Association, famous and respected people of the town expressed their support of the project. The members of the above-mentioned association, labor veterans, honorable citizens of the town of Ekibastuz Yerken Aubakirov and Manat Syzdykov, Chairman of the Association Anatoliy Dvorak, Leonid Yeresko, Sabit Sadykov, Beisenbek Makashev noted the many years of the cooperation with the management of Bogatyr Coal LLP having underlined the openness of the enterprise in the issues of compliance with the norms of ecology and environmental legislation. In the course of exchange of opinions the community workers asked questions about potential employment of people released in the process of the project implementation. Answering the question Chief Project Manager Sergey Ugarkin confirmed one more time the position of the company management announced earlier – all employees released in the process of the cycle and flow technology project implementation would have retraining and be employed at the enterprise according to their acquired specialties. The specialists of Ecoline Center noted the management of Bogatyr Coal LLP had the appropriate road map on employment.
The community workers also expressed their interest to the technical resolution of the dusting problem in the course of coal conveyor transportation. By Sergey Ugarkin, the project envisages some technical solutions, namely speaking: lifting conveyors will be covered completely; it is planned to cover horizontal conveyors for 50 meters from a trans-loading point. It is proposed to the do the latter taking into account the experience of exploitation of the analogous complex at Vostochny mine.
Deputy Technical Director of Bogatyr Coal LLP Natalya Shulayeva informed the meeting participants on the nature protection measures held in the company and introduction of the advanced experience in ecology. The specialists of Ecoline Center suggested considering an opportunity of opening a public reception on the basis of Environmental Protection Association. The idea met the support of the community workers.
Closing the meeting the members of Environmental Protection Public Association suggested holding the meeting of the round table in Bogatyr Coal LLP with attraction of general public and representatives of coal mining companies of the region. They expressed the hope that similar events would be hold in the future at other enterprises of the coal industry.
Kanat ALDABAYEV.
