Shortwall stoping versus sub-level lougwall caving-retreat in Eli coal fieds

Abstract

This study deals with the presentation of the mechanized longwall mining project introduced some years ago to increase productivity and output of Aegean Lignite Establishment (ELI) owned by Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKI) and the comparison of this method with a planned alternative new mining method called 'shortwall mining' where continuous miners will be introduced as primary coal excavation machines. Following the planning phase, production costs have been calculated for both mining methods on the basis of a panel having a height of 7.5 m. In addition to cost analysis, both methods have been evaluated using 'the multi-dimensional objective system'. In this evaluation the value synthesis has been carried out according to scoring models. Lastly, the advantages and disadvantages of both production methods have been stated by analysing them according to related criteria. In the light of outputs gathered from the analyses, it has been determined that the shortwall mining method will out perform the longwall method. © The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2006.