The Russian mining and steel producing company Mechel has announced the relaunching of the Nerungrinskaya washing plant at its coal mining subsidiary Yakutugol, following the accident on December 26, 2010, which saw the collapse of three thickeners in the washing shop.
Accordingly, the washing plant's coking coal concentrate production equipment was restarted on February 10, 2011. Operations were resumed at the washing shop's second and third sections, which at full load will allow the plant to maintain pre-accident levels of concentrate production. Repairs are ongoing at the shop's first section.
"The Nerungrinskaya washing plant's restart was preceded by major repair works to eliminate the accident's after-effects, restore the steelworks, strengthen the assembly of thickeners and prepare the equipment for operation," reads Mechel's statement.