A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

An international example of stewardship or using innovative techniques for resource
extraction is the Quang Ningh coal mining region in northern Vietnam. By utilising efficient
longwall extraction, surplus funds are used for rehabilitation of old waste spoil piles.
MINE: Underground and open pit coal mines
LOCATION: Quang Ninh province, Vietnam
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Application of new technology into underground coal
mining in Vietnam.
AREA OF LEADING PRACTICE: Resource utilisation; new technologies/risk
management being implemented
DESCRIPTION OF INNOVATION:
Underground mining has been operating in Quangninh province, Vietnam since
the early 20th century. However, due to both the complications of geological/
geotechnical/mining conditions and outdated equipment, coal production in
Quangninh remained at 4 to 6 million tonnes per year for many years. Almost
of the longwall faces at that time were supported by wooden props, causing the
low output and productivity, and low standard of safety management. Since the
1990s, the Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Ltd.
(VINACOMIN) has been applying advanced science and new technology into
almost every stage of mining production, including: coal extraction, roadway
development, underground transport, gas management, ventilation, water
degradation, and environment protection in order to improve coal production
and safety management. Recent improvements include: the application of
the hydraulic props, moving girder hydraulic shields or mechanized shields to
replace wooden props in supporting the longwall face; new types of transport
in mines such as conveyors, hanging conveyor, extendable conveyer also have
been applied to replace the inefficient kinds of transport in underground mine
such as wagon pulling by locomotives; some types of transportation for workers
in underground such as winch assisting workers walking in underground mines,
infinite winch used for transport workers from surface to the working places to
reduce the time and minimise the impact on employees’ health. At present, the
gas content in the coal seams in the Quangninh coalfield has been determined
and the database of coal seams according to gas content has been established
and classified. This database can assist the mine planners to design the strategies
for preventing the potential problem of spontaneous combustion in underground
mines. In addition, almost all of underground coal mines have been equipped with
methane tracking stations to monitor the gas content in underground so that
the potential problems can be prevented. This improvement has resulted in a
dramatic increase in coal production, productivity, coal recovery, and the standard
of safety management. For example, the output from a longwall face increased
from 40,000 - 60,000 tonnes per year (the face supported by timber props) to
approximately 250,000-500,000 tonnes per year, the productivity increased
A GUIDE TO LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MINING 115