As we go to press with the December issue, including an article on coal clearance from the underground face, news comes that Singareni Collieries Co Ltd (SCCL) – jointly owned by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Government of India – has chosen two Bucyrus FBR-15 coal haulers for its GDK11a underground coal mine. This follows the successful delivery and operation of a Bucyrus FBL-10 LHD vehicle at the GDK5 mine in May 2008, the first modern diesel powered LHD to be used at the coal face anywhere in India.
The GDK11a mine is a room and pillar operation and the two FBR-15 coal haulers will join a 30M4-NP continuous miner, a 7MFBH-48A feeder breaker, a Bucyrus/Fletcher roof bolter and an electrical package – all supplied by Bucyrus – in a five-year continuous miner project.
The FBR-15, according to Bucyrus, proved to be hauler of choice for the SCCL operation as it allows completely independent operation of underground vehicles without the need for infrastructure investment in cable routing. With SCCL already operating a Bucyrus FBL-10 – which shares many drive train components with the FBR-15 – there is a reduction in spare parts and consumables inventories at the mine site.
A full hopper on the FBR-15 can be discharged in 23 seconds, which, in combination with rapid tramming from the coal face to the discharge point, helps minimise cycle times. It also has true-tracking four-wheel drive, where the front and rear wheels follow each other’s tracks around corners, benefiting, in particular, room and pillar operations. In addition the FBR-15 can be used during panel moves, when electrical power is not available and also for transportation of materials in and out of the working panel from outbye.
Bucyrus diesel products use best-in-class diesel engines, reducing airflow requirements, and its dry-filter exhaust system offers reduced exhaust emissions, with catalytic purifiers and particulate filters cutting diesel smoke emissions from exhaust gas to zero.
SCCL’s GDK11a underground coal mine has Proven reserves of 8,791 Mt. With 78,000 employees, SCCL operates 13 surface and 42 underground mines in India.
