November 8, 2018 - Mechel PAO (MOEX: MTLR, NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports launching Longwall 21-1-11 at Olzherasskaya Novaya Underground Mine which is part of Southern Kuzbass Coal Company.

The new longwall’s industrial coal reserves are estimated at 3.6 million tonnes. The longwall is 200 meters long, the extraction panel is approximately 1,660 meters.

Mining at the longwall will be conducted by a stoping complex including a 135-section powered support system, a high-performance cutter-loader, a breaker, a loader, a longwall and a goaf conveyor. Investment in the project totaled 270 million rubles.

Miners at Olzherasskaya Novaya Underground’s Longwall 21-1-11 use a special sub-level caving method, which enables thick seam mining in one coal layer of up to 10 meters, extracting maximum volumes of coal in one go while decreasing the risk of breeding fire. This technology was proved most efficient in these geological conditions.

“After washing, the coal mined here will be sold to Russian and foreign power generating and steelmaking companies. The monthly load is planned at 150,000 tonnes, and our personnel will work this longwall for about two years,” Mechel Mining Management OOO’s Chief Executive Officer Pavel Shtark noted.

Mechel is an international mining and steel company. Its products are marketed in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, steel, rolled products, ferroalloys, heat and electric power. All of its enterprises work in a single production chain, from raw materials to high value-added products.