A cut-through worth its weight in gold

On Tuesday, 30 May 2017, a strategic cut-through connecting the headings drilled by Przedsiębiorstwo Budowy Kopalń PeBeKa S.A. in Lubin for the Polkowice-Sieroszowice Copper Ore Mine operated by KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. was made. It will make it possible to improve considerably the ventilation and air conditioning conditions in the workings.

Connecting the T,W-359 bundle of headings was a very important and long-expected operation as well as a milestone in ensuring access to new copper ore deposits. Expanding the mine's ventilation network, the connection of the headings should improve the working conditions for miner teams. It should be emphasized that at the moment of the operation the SW-4 shaft started to supply more and more fresh air from the surface to mine workings. The target capacity of the SW-4 shaft is approximately 70000 m³ of fresh air per minute.

Cutting through the T,W-359S and T,W-359aS headings, i.e. the closing of the so-called large ventilation circle, constitutes a connection between the headings which were being driven simultaneously by two independent teams from two sides of the mine. Works from the side of the SW-1 were initiated in February 2014, while the first directional blasts from the bottom of the SW-4 shaft were performed in May 2015.

All the aforementioned operations are elements of works necessary for the mining of the new Głogów Głęboki Przemysłowy copper ore deposits, mainly with respect to transport activities and ventilation. Thanks to the connection between the workings, it will be possible to supply fresh air from the SW-4 shaft towards Rudna, Polkowice - Sieroszowice and the GG-1 shaft, which is currently being sunk. This will provide KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. with access to subsequent copper ore deposits.