The longwall uses BW-JZR 13/37 W2 powered support sections, PSJZR-850 face conveyor and a haulage system with PZP Kobra bottom conveyor and KD BW 800-1200 crusher. The A-1 longwall is equipped with an Eickhoff SL 300 shearer.
“The launch of mining in the new area at the Budryk mine is a very important moment, not only for the Budryk mine, but for the entire Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa. The resources made available in seam 405/1 of area "A" alone amount to more than 5.7 million tons of high-quality coking coal. In the longer term, we also plan to mine from the 405/2 seam. The opening of this area of the deposit will allow the mine's life to be significantly extended,” says Adam Rozmus, JSW’s Vice-President for Technical and Operational Matters.
The mining of area "A" would not have been possible if not for the ventilation connection of the Budryk mine with the "Aniołki" shaft of the neighboring Knurów-Szczygłowice mine.
“The connection of the Budryk mine's ventilation network to the Aniołki shaft is proof that Budryk is implementing a well-thought-out, long-term process that places special emphasis on safety and ensuring appropriate working conditions, including climate and ventilation," stresses Jarosław Rutkowski, director of the Budryk mine.
For the Budryk mine, this is the second longwall opened in a short period of time in a seam of such significant thickness. At the beginning of September, Longwall Bw-1 in seam 405/2 was put into operation, with the average seam thickness of about 3.2 meters and reserves estimated at more than 1.6 million tons. This means that Budryk has strengthened its position as a producer of high-quality coking coal with stable parameters, which is very important from the point of view of raw material buyers.
“The A-1 longwall in seam 405/1 and the Bw-1 longwall in seam 405/2 are very important for the mine's future development prospects and key mining regions for the coming years. The opening of these longwalls is thanks to a whole team of people, from the mining, energy and ventilation departments to the Coal Preparation Plant, which, after modernization, ensures excellent final quality of the product," adds Director Rutkowski.