The previous 2005 passed under the sign of difficulties and irregularity with regard to the main economic activity of Mini Maritsa Iztok EAD – coal extraction, which was mainly due to the reduced load of the thermal power plants of the complex Maritsa Iztok (Maritsa East). Naturally, this affected negatively the rest of the Company’s activities such as overburden works, investment programme, reclamation of spoiled areas, etc. and mostly the financial stability of the Company as a whole.
A dangerous trend of coal output under the crucial minimum emerged due to the aggravated production performance, particularly during the spring and summer seasons. This would have resulted in negative financial outcome for the year but owing to the joint efforts of the whole Company’s team and our specialists’ knowledge, skills and efforts the lag was compensated to a considerable extent in the last quarter of 2005. No organizational and technological obstacles could prevent the fulfillment of the consumers’ orders during this period.
In 2005 Mini Maritsa Iztok EAD produced 20 937 015 tonnes of coal which was 100,9% in comparison to the Company’s Business plan. More than 72,5 mln. m3 of earth mass covering the coal layers were excavated, transported and backfilled. The total investments’ amount was BGN 58 444 000 in spite of the financial problems, which were result of decreased coal quantities sold as compared to those planned at the beginning of the year.
Since 2005 rehabilitation processes at the main capacities in Maritsa Iztok 2 TPP EAD and Maritsa Iztok III Energy Company JSC have been carried out and they will continue for the next two years. Due to latter, our Company faces the tremendously difficult task: to work under the conditions of reduced production with respect of the coal output and simultaneously to get prepared for a sharp increase in the consumers’ orders after the present period is over and especially after the construction of the new AES power generating capacities is completed. This offers a formidable challenge which we altogether should face; we should solve this problem by our own joint efforts through the means of clearly stated targets and programmes. Another hard task we have to manage with is the retention of our human resources potential under the conditions of reduced production. Also we have to restructure and train these resources in such a way as to be able to produce regularly over 30 mln. tonnes of coal per year in two or three years` time.
The long-term perspectives and opportunities of Mini Maritsa Iztok EAD appear to be more than hopeful. I am persuaded that all of us – managers, specialists, workers and social partners, with joint efforts in the course of this difficult period shall manage to translate these opportunities into reality.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ENG. IVAN MARKOV
MAIN TECHNICAL PARAMETERS
The productive area of the coalfield amounts to some 240 sq. km with total length of the coal extraction longwall of 10 km. Three opencast mines are operated on the territory of the field – Troyanovo 1 Mine, Troyanovo North Mine and Troyanovo 3 Mine. The lignite produced by the company is intended for supplying Maritsa Iztok 2 TPP, Energy Company Maritsa Iztok III JSC and Brikel EAD. Up to 2005 inclusive 829 546 019 tonnes of coal were extracted and 3 576 260 183 m3 overburden were backfilled at an average stripping ratio of 4.31 m3/t.
According to the classification of 1998 the workable lignite reserves of Mini Maritsa Iztok EAD as at 01.01.2006 amount to 2 148 887 000 t. of which 1 192 341 000 t. are classified in category 1.1.1 – proven reserves.
The coal is falls into two classes – energy class of ash content Ad=25% up to 45%, average calorific value of 1 500 Kcal/kg and briquettable class Ad=16% up to 25%, average calorific value of 1 800 Kcal/kg. Coal seams are located at a relatively small depth of 6-10 m to 110-120 m. The average thickness of the 3rd coal layer is 2,7 m and that of the 2nd is 10-25 m. Coal production in Troyanovo 3 Mine and coal transportation to the consumer, Energy Company Maritsa Iztok III JSC is carried out by flow line technology. Coal production in Troyanovo 1 Mine and Troyanovo North Mine is performed by flow line-cyclic technology.
The four transfer stations from rubber conveyor belt to railroad transport are located on the area of the pillar between the two mines, from where coal is supplied to the consumers Brikel JSC, Maritsa Iztok 2 TPP.
Presently, extraction works in the three opencast mines are performed by a fully flow line technology employing bucket wheel excavators, rubber belt conveyors and belt spreaders. Mining works are performed at five transportation horizons with combined progress of the longwall, i.e. fan-like and in parallel.
The balance between the backfilled and disposed of volumes of overburden in external and internal dumps is 1:1 with the tendency of increasing the volume of the backfilled overburden into internal dumps as well as shortening the transportation routes.
