Settling Problem Settled
07 April 2006 11:09
Jinchuan Non-ferrous Metals Corporation (JNMC) is China's largest producer of nickel ore. JNMC produces 3 million tons of nickel ore annually, from three mines - the Longshou Mine, the No. 2 Mine and the open-pit mine. Situated in Jinchang City in northwest China's Gansu Province, the company has long had a problem with settling cleaning underground. "In past decades, we used a lot of labour and materials to handle the settling problems in the mine," says Wang Honglie, director of the No. 2 mine.
For 10 years the mine had depended only on manpower to solve its settlement problem, with labourers working in shifts using shovels and bags - a stark contrast to the advanced mining equipment used today. On every shift, three workers would dig out the slurry, and it took two weeks to clear a basin. Then the workers would start clearing the other basin. The intensive workload and poor working environment affected the workers and mine operators.
Since then, ITT Flygt pumps and a non-settling pumping system have been introduced into the mine, which, Wang says, "mixed everything in the basin up and pumped it away - not only the water but all solids in it." Now there is one basin at the 1,118 metre level that is a 5 metres long, 2.5 metre wide and 3 metres deep, and the number of labourers working there has been greatly reduced, from three workers every shift every day, to one worker every two weeks working one hour. "The new pumping system is a huge investment, but it has already paid dividends," he says.
An ITT Flygt pumping system has also been installed at the 1,000-metre level, and a similar system will soon be adopted at the 935-metre level. In the wake of the successes at the No 2 mine, the other two mines of JNMC are looking at ITT Flygt products and solutions. JNMC has already purchased six non-settling pumping systems, and in 2005 eight more systems will be bought, says Lei Li (Larry Lee), Flygt China Mining Business Unit.
"When we went to investigate the underground drainage system, we found that although the key mining equipment there was internationally advanced, the drainage system was still at a 1970s level," recalls Li, who is responsible for the project with JNMC.
In 2001, when ITT Flygt entered the country, Flygt China Mining Business Unit conducted a nationwide survey of the Chinese mining industry and found that in general drainage systems were lagging far behind international standards. "We have discussed with major mines and engineering research and design institutions to jointly improve the situation," Li says.
For more information on this company:
Flygt - Reliable Fluid Handling Solutions for the Mining Industry
Copyright 2007 SPG Media Limited a subsidiary of SPG Media Group PLC
