In 1995, Turkey’s Ministry of Power and Natural Resources launched a privatisation program to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity. The program includes the construction of new power generating facilities by private companies and the transfer of operating rights to existing facilities.

In 1996, Park Teknik, a joint venture between Turkish company Park Holding (85%) and RAG (15%), signed an agreement to produce 3 million tons of coal from the Caryirhan coal field for 15 years. Park Teknik, operates the B and C fields supplying coal to the adjacent power station. In 2000 the operational rights for the Çayırhan power station and a state mine were granted to Park Termik, another subsidiary of Park Holding.

The coals of the Çayırhan coal field are contained in a Tertiary basin, some four kilometers wide, and approximately 25 km long elongated in a south-west to north-east direction. The project area is at a height of 445-815 m above sea level stretching over a length of 9 km and covering approximately 35 km2.

The geological resource is estimated at approximately 400 Mt contained in two seams. In the proximity of the mine, the upper seam consists of two coal splits of 1.7m to 2m in thickness separated by a calystone interburden of 0.5 to 2.0 m thick. A second seam occurs some 80m-100 m below the upper seams and accounts for some 80 Mt of the total geological reserve.

Developed as completely separate operations, Park Teknik’s mining operations are located in the B and C fields, which have a minable reserve of 32 Mt. Since mining began in 1996, production levels have risen from 78,000 tons to 3.9 million tons in 2001. Average daily production has risen to its highest level of 15.510 tons in 2001, with maximum peaks of 24.500 tons. Productivity during 2001 averaged 27.6 tons per shift.

B field

In the B field, the thickness of the intermediate layer in ranges from 1.3m-2 m. As a result, the two seams are mined separately by two retreating longwall faces, operated at the same time. In the upper part of the seam the face height is 1.6m while in the lower part of the seam the face height is 1.9m. The distance between the two longwall faces is kept at 25m-35m apart to equilize the roof pressures coming to bear.

Due to the coal hardness double drum Eickhoff SL 300 shearers are used with a drum diameter of 1400 mm. The roof supports are rebuilt Kloeckner Becorit units. Sliding side canopies and extendable main canopies prevent the goaf rock from entering the face area. Hydraulic power for the self-advancing shields is provided by a Hauhinco hydraulic pump station.

Coal is transported from the face by a DBT GB AFC using a 30 mm double chain with total installed power of 500 kW (2 x 250 kW). Coal from both seams is transported by a single 30mm double chain BSL in the maingate to a belt conveyor

C field

Since the intermediate layer is around 0.5m-0.7m in the C field, both seams and the intermediate layer are mined in a single operation. An Eickhoff SL 500 shearer is employed with a drum diameter of 2300 mm. The face conveyor is a DBT PF 4 AFC with 34mm double chain and installed power of 1050kW (2 x 400 + 1 x 250 kW). The DBT stage loader has 34 mm double chain and installed power of 250 kW (with crusher).

For both operations, Vulcan Software is used for planning purposes (calculation of reserves, mine design). İn order to keep development work to a minimum, to provide more efficient use of reserves and to reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion of coal, panel maingates are being used as the tailgates of the following panels. Equipment including shearers, AFC, BSL, beltlines, hydraulic pump stations and ventilators are monitored using Walter Becker equipment and software.

As the Çayırhan Mine is not close to any other mining area, Park Termik mine established its own mine rescue station in Çayırhan, equipped with rescue equipment and medical facilities.

“With the introduction of this ore to the country’s economy using high technology, important advancements are obtained to eliminate the power shortage faced by Turkey,” the company said.

“While Park Teknik provides the target production by using high technology and thus minimizing the number of the employees working underground, it has obtained high efficiency and a secure working environment with this system.”