As a result, the Darkov mine was in urgent need of a replacement to fulfil its delivery contracts.
Darkov has notoriously difficult geological conditions because of a high seam and sandstone intrusions, but Bucyrus offered to lease a specially customised EL2000 shearer to the producer.
After only a short period of successful operation, OKD purchased the shearer, making it the first Bucyrus shearer in the Czech Republic.
The Darkov mine required a shearer to work seams up to 4.5m, but the Bucyrus EL2000 was designed for medium range seams of 1.4-3.5m. Despite this, Bucyrus said the robust design with the unique mainframe concept allowed the shearer to reach the additional height.
When shipped, the shearer was set up as requested for a mining height of only 3.7m due to the geology at the start of the panel. The mainframe was a three-piece to allow transport from the surface to the longwall.
The shearer was delivered within only four weeks of OKD’s request for help, with a further two weeks for commissioning. Operations commenced on November 2, 2008.
In January 2009, the shearer produced 129,597 tonnes in 28 days – a daily output of 4629t with a face advance rate of 4m per day. The daily advance was restricted at the time by the risk of rock bursts.
The restriction was lifted the following month and since then the shearer has established a production of up to 7000t per day. The operating height of the machine was extended to its maximum 4.5m in February, allowing it to mine the full seam height.
