DMT will concentrate on preventing coal outbursts and gas eruptions; mining technologies; roof control; utilising the energy contained in mine gas; and training.
Today’s announcement is the result of a letter of intent covering partnership efforts centred on hard coal mining and utilisation between the Huainan Group and DMT parent company RAG Aktiengesellschaft.
“Following years of connections to the Chinese mining industry, characterised by trust and confidence, this contract marks the first genuine entry into the market,” DMT chief Dr Michael Koppitz said.
The Huainan Group, located near Shanghai, is one of China’s largest coal mining companies and is currently opening five new major mines and building two hard coal-fired power plants.
Huainan plans to boost extraction rates to 100 million tons annually in the medium term.
The immense coal reserves are estimated at some 80 billion tons, located at depths of between 1200m and 1500m with conditions similar to those found in the German hard coal mining industry.
Last year DMT conducted a safety study on Chinese mining operations on behalf of the government of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
“The objective was, using an unequivocal evaluation scheme, to make both government and private-sector mining operations aware of hazard potentials. The result was a practice-oriented checklist intended to improve safety standards at China’s many mining sites,” Koppitz said.
