WORLD PROSPECTS
RBL-REI pit to port coal conveyor project in Sakhalin
T
he France-based company RBL-REI, one of the
worldwide leaders in the design,
manufacturing and construction of overland
belt conveyors with technical complexities, is set to
again prove its skills and capabilities for challenging
works at a Russian project, based in Sakhalin, the
largest Russian island, located in the Far East of the
country. Sakhalin is ranked 9th in Russia for coal
extraction with the Eastern Mining Company (EMCO)
mainly in charge of the production and export of
coal. Most of the coal produced is exported to South
Korea, China, Japan, and the Philippines.
EMCO has chosen RBL-REI as the contractor for
the construction of a 23 km main conveyor line for
coal transport from mine to port. The contract for
manufacturing, delivery and construction
supervision of the corresponding equipment was
signed in Moscow, in February 2019. The coal
conveyor in the territory of the Uglegorsky district in
Sakhalin region will be the longest in Russia. It will
connect the key mining asset of EMCO’s
Solntsevsky coal mine with the coal seaport of
Shakhtersk.
According to the company’s global development
strategy, the construction of the conveyor is one of
the key measures to further increase the production
and export shipment of coal from the current 7.5
Mt/y at the end of 2018, to 20 Mt/y after 2022. The
capacity will be 4,200 t/h with a 2,000 mm wide belt
running at 5.5 m/s powered by 8,000 kW for each of
the two main segments.
Currently, RBL-REI is starting to manufacture the
equipment. Meanwhile, EMCO has already started
preparatory and general construction works, namely
the vertical layout of the conveyor route and
earthworks. The installation of foundations will soon
begin. It is planned to complete the construction of
the facility in 2021. The total cost to the the customer
for the project is tentatively estimated at RUB 7.8
billion. The project is supported by Federal and
regional authorities.
“The main coal conveyor in the Uglegorsky
district will become one of the most modern not only
in Russia, but also in the world. The launch of the
facility will significantly reduce the load on the
district's roads and have a positive impact on the
environment, since the conveyor will be covered
throughout its entire length. The project will create
additional high-tech jobs and significantly increase
tax deductions to the regional and municipal
budgets.” said Oleg Misevra, Chairman of the Board
of Directors of EMCO. He adds: “Implementing this
project, we put the economy and the environment at
the forefront. Road transport of coal is really quite
expensive. We pay $4-5 per tonne transported. The
conveyor will reduce the cost below $1 per tonne. It
turns out that we win $3-4 per tonne. Based on the
volume of traffic even at 10 Mt/y, the conveyor will
save at least $30 million per year.”
The conveyor will consist of three segments, two of
which have numerous horizontal and vertical radii. The
longest segment is about 13 km long. The conveyor
route crosses numerous roads, water barriers, and
power lines. All intersections are coordinated with
6 International Mining | MAY 2020
EMCO has chosen RBL-REI as the contractor for the construction of a 23 km main conveyor line for
coal transport in Sakhalin, Far East Russia, from the Solntsevsky coal mine to the coal seaport of
Shakhtersk. Top: Photo from another RBL-REI overland conveyor project. Above: the 23 km EMCO
project conveyor route
local supervisory authorities and must meet not only
international, but also Russian specific norms and
standards. Thus, about 10 km of the flight is raised
above the ground and utilises trestles, bridges or
conveyor galleries with special load-bearing trusses.
The longest spans are 82 m (crossing a road) and 64 m
(crossing a river), respectively.
Sakhalin Island is a zone with a seismicity of up to
9 points (MSK-64 scale). Construction in such areas
requires special calculations and strengthening of
all structures taking into account seismic loads.
In addition, the climatic conditions at the
construction site of the conveyor are quite severe: in
winter, intense precipitation and snowstorms are
typical, and the equipment is designed to operate at
temperatures from -40 to +400C. The maximum wind
speed can reach up to 40 m/sec. During the year,
1,100-1,700 mm of precipitation falls. A third of
precipitation falls during the cold period, sometimes
in the form of heavy snow and sleet, characterised
by frequent and long-lasting snowstorms with
strong drifts. Characterised by frequent and long-
lasting snowstormswith strong drifts. Due to the
difficult climatic conditions, it was decided to cover
not only the belt, but also transfer towers and the
rooms of the drive groups.
Before a construction permit is obtained, the
project must pass a state examination and receive
a positive conclusion. The equipment needs to be
certified and subject to a declaration of compliance
with the regulations on safety of machinery and
equipment of the customs union of the member
states of the Eurasian economic union.
In total, it is expected to involve shipping more
than 1,000 40 ft sea containers with equipment from
Europe and China in 2020-2021. For RBL-REI, the
project is a priority. Its implementation involves the
most experienced employees of its own design
office and all technical services in France, its own
metalwork plant in China, as well as the company's
own office in Russia (Moscow).
www.rblrei-france.com