Mining without risks

In the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, around the booming city of Ordos, miners are ramping up coal production using modern equipment and new technology. Yan Hongqi, fleet manager at the Shenhua Shendong Group’s Wanli No. 1 mine, has seen the risk of accidents almost entirely eliminated after the introduction of Sandvik’s bolter miners.

Published: 5 July 2012

About Yan Hongqi

Age: 46.
Residence: Lives in the residential quarter of the Wanli No. 1 mine zone.
Family: Wife and two daughters.
Career: Worked with the Jizhong Energy Group from 1985 to 2006, responsible for roadway excavation in various mines. Joined Shenhua Shendong Group in 2006.

The Shenhua Shendong Group is a leading operator in China and currently Sandvik’s biggest customer in the field of coal mining in China.

What are your job responsibilities as fleet manager?
“I’m responsible for the overall operation of the No. 2 fleet of Wanli No. 1 mine.”

What are the challenges in your work?
“The geological conditions at this mine are very complex. The roof and floor are not in good condition, making it difficult to install bolts. Thanks to the Sandvik MB670, which can cut roadways while installing bolts, roof-fall accidents have been totally eliminated at the Wanli No. 1 mine.”

When did you start your collaboration with Sandvik?
“Our first Sandvik bolter miner arrived in 2008. Sandvik engineers assembled it on-site and provided detailed instructions about its operation. Now the number of Sandvik bolter miners in our fleet has increased to five.”

What do you think of Sandvik’s services?
“The cooperation with Sandvik has been going very well. Their engineers are professional and committed, standing ready to help us solve problems.”