Safe and Effective Decommissioning of Arch Supports

ongoing

Safe and cost effective decommissioning of galleries in underground coal mines i.e. recovery of heavy steel arch supports is the job, which can not be omitted in the massive process of coal mines’ liquidation in Europe. Despite of decades’ experience in underground galleries liquidation it is still not very efficient process - recognised as one of the most dangerous for the staff. Pilot project SEDAS (Safe and Effective Decommissioning of Arch Supports) will develop innovative cutting explosive charges and a new technology for the safe and efficient decommissioning of galleries in underground mines. Efficient recovery of millions of tons of high quality steel, constituted by arch supports from thousands’ kilometres underground galleries of liquidated European coal mines is not only fully in line with all three RFCS research priorities but also with global tendency to mitigate coal mine methane emissions which can not be avoided when mining coking coal needed in steel production, not mentioning present geopolitical situation and huge demand for high quality steel. Tests to develop new, innovative cutting explosive charges technology will be performed in unique (in situ) conditions of underground Experimental mine “Barbara”(GIG-PIB). SEDAS project will be professionally handled by international consortium, with high interest and expectations by industrial partners to implement it in all European coal mines under liquidation. Innovative techniques proposed in SEDAS will be subject of international patents and can be subject of repeatability and re-scaling in coal mines globally. The results will be globally disseminated under UNECE and World Mining Congress.