By Paul Moore

December 5, 2018 - Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has secured a strategic partnership agreement with Kolmar. Located in the Neryungri District for the Republic of Sakha, the Russian coking coal miner and processor is a major contributor to infrastructure development in the region, and is currently engaged in the largest investment projects in the Far Eastern Federal District.

The agreement covers the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships and piggybacks the provision of Sandvik equipment, including a Sandvik MC430 double pass room and pillar miner and Sandvik TS490-1 underground longwall shield hauler – the first such hauler supplied to Russia – at the new section of the company’s Denisovskaya mine.

Denisovskaya Central mine is the only mine in Russia using room-and pillar mining. Kolmar has been the first company in Russia to receive permission to use this method at a depth below 200 m. The second mine, Denisovskaya Eastern, is located in the license area adjacent to the Central mine area. The mines are interconnected, and the new mine is using the existing infrastructure. Even the exit of Denisovskaya-Eastern to the surface is being provided from the Central mine. Denisovskaya Eastern mine uses longwall mining.