The record was set by the mine’s 4 seam shortwall and betters the previous June 2000 record of 495,677 ROM tonnes. The Matla shortwall is 114 metres wide, and operates at a mining height of 3.8m-4.1m.
A Matla spokesperson said factors that contributed to the record were belt and machine availabilities; favourable geological conditions; quality of maintenance; reliability of infrastructure and equipment; and, objective setting and subsequent focus on efforts and inputs.
Excluding development, the 4 seam shortwall produced 3.271 Mt ROM for the year ended June 2001. During the period two longwall moves were carried out with a loss of production time of approximately 60 days.
The mine is budgeted to produce 3.288 million ROM tonnes for the current calendar year ending December 2001. Despite two longwall moves occurring during the year the mine is on track to produce 3.754Mt, or almost half a million tonnes over budget to December.
The October record was achieved with a JOY 6LS05 shearer with a cutting speed of approximately 10-12m/minute maingate to tailgate, and 17-20m/minute tailgate to maingate. Production crews work three eight-hour shifts, which includes a daily maintenance window from 7am to 10am.
The 4 Seam development sections are using JOY HM9 continuous miners and are performing well, according to mine management. The advance rate for development sections is between 25m-30m a shift or 50m-60m a day (double shift). Development crews work one nine-hour shift and one 10-hour shift per day (five-day week).
The mine is in the process of installing a second shortwall face to extract 2 seam reserves at a mining height of 3.5m-5.5m. The second shortwall will replace existing production capacity from the No 1 and No 3 Mine presently produced by means of continuous miner bord and pillar methods.
The 2 Seam Shortwall will only commence production by approximately August 2002. Matla has ordered an Eickhoff shearer for the second face. The shearer will incorporate a ranging arm with installed power of 825KW and a haulage pull in excess of 900KN. DBT will provide both the roof supports and AFC.
Matla is owned by Eyesizwe Coal (80%), Anglo Coal (11%) and Ingwe (9%).
