At 6th level of Mine No.8, Vladimir Verkhovtsev, Chief Executive Officer of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation’s mining arm, congratulates JSC PIMCU best miners on their professional holiday

Mining industry workers, who set production records, received awards and certificates of gratitude from ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation, ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. and JSC PIMCU. These are shaft sinkers who passed 160 linear metres by the breasting method in a month (previously, an average sinking speed was 45 linear metres per month) and representatives of many underground professions, whose efforts made it possible to commission the 6th level of Mine No.8. Among these people are Gennadiy Damaskin, underground site supervisor of the Shaft-Sinking Department No.3; Viktor Plekhov, underground electric and gas welder; Aleksandr Martynov, underground sinker; Andrey Vasiliev, underground electrician, and many others.

“You have successfully accomplished the task that involved the implementation of the project to Enhance Performance and Fullfill Mining Operations in the Amount of 160 linear metres by the breasting method within the framework of the Rosatom Production System. Underneath this figure is a well-coordinated work of the whole team and each element of the production chain. The task that you have accomplished may be called a global one, since Mine No.8 includes newly commissioned units, new jobs and capacities. Now, it is necessary to spread about this successful experience to other JSC PIMCU mines as well,” emphasized Vladimir Verkhovtsev, Director General of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co.

A project to put into pilot industrial operation systems for underground mining communication and personnel and equipment positioning was also implemented at Mine No.8. The project was fullfilled within the framework of the Programme for Information Technology Transformation of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation.

“Most importantly, this system enables us to ensure safety of works at the mines. Therefore, we made every effort to put the equipment into service as soon as possible and combined the equipment installation with its commissioning,” said Vladimir Luchnikov, Project Manager, Head of Directorate for IT and APCS of JSC PIMCU.

The operational communication system is based on the use of Canadian-made FLEXCOM equipment. The equipment is tuned to receive specific radio frequencies for each mine. The system enables the personnel to communicate between each other and with mine’s dispatcher. The radio sets also provide access to industrial and engineering communication (local telephone numbers). Furthermore, mine rescue team’s radio sets are adjusted to the mines’ frequencies, which makes it possible to immediately respond to emergency situations. The INsite personnel and equipment positioning software, integrated with the underground mining communication system, allows for not only hearing, but also seeing location of people and machines at any time and within any level or site.

The Chief Executive Officer of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation’s mining arm gave a high assessment of the works completed in record-breaking time: “We do not need products at whatever cost, including at the cost of human lives and injuries. We all must remember that immutable, unswerving compliance with the safety requirements remains the highest priority for our company. I affirm that we will severely respond to all cases of careless attitude towards safety, endangering life and health of fellow employees. In contrast, the enterprise’s development prospects are closely connected with upgrading processes, enhancing performance, introducing state-of-the-art, high tech equipment and improving miner’s labour conditions. And this process will continue, while the enterprise will remain a guarantor of Russia’s energy safety, a secure foundation of the city’s further development, and a prerequisite for economic stability in the Trans-Baikal Territory.”