Norilsk Nickel is preparing to launch a unique tunneling complex / Economic news of Krasnoyarsk and the Krasnoyarsk Territory / Newslab.Ru

Norilsk Nickel will launch a unique tunneling complex at the Taimyrsky mine in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Vice President, Director of the Polar Branch of the company Alexander Leonov said this in a long interview.

The mechanized complex, which has no analogues in the world, was created in partnership with the Mining Technology Industry (IMT) and the Chinese company Robbins. Its weight is about 700 tons and its length is 160 meters. About 300 tons of peripheral equipment and spare parts are delivered to Norilsk with a supply for several years. All specialists who will work with the unique complex have already been trained.

The equipment is already being delivered to the Taimyrsky mine. Testing will begin in the second quarter of 2026. The equipment will be used to extract rich ore from the Severnaya-4 deposit.

“We are entering into a most unique project. Similar “harvesters” are used in metro construction, for salt or coal rocks. But such equipment has never worked on ore anywhere in the world. We are pioneers here. The complex is capable of achieving the rate of penetration that we need, and even higher already this year. The estimated penetration rate is 500 meters per month with the potential for a twofold increase. Based on this speed, already in 2026 we plan to extract 150 thousand tons of ore using this complex, with subsequent growth to half a million tons,” said Alexander Leonov.

To assemble the unique complex, a special chamber has already been created and equipped at Taimyrsky. Installation of Norda is carried out under the control of the manufacturer with the direct participation of the Russian contractor and mine engineers.

IGT General Director Oleg Osnovin said that the new technology had been developed for more than ten years together with Norilsk Nickel. It will allow us to completely abandon the traditional drilling and blasting method. Instead, the method of mechanical chipping of rock with an electrically driven cutter is used. This will increase work safety.

The complex includes an emergency capsule, which is capable of ensuring autonomous stay of the entire crew underground for a month.

The Norda complex is fully automated. This allows surface personnel to monitor all parameters of their work – productivity, downtime, system status. In the future, this will make it possible to eliminate the presence of humans at the mine face. The first step towards this will be the automation of mining haulage (ore carriers).

“Launching a complex is a huge responsibility. But I believe that our company, our team, will cope. The first ore at our enterprise was brought to the surface on December 30, 1982. This is a significant date. I am sure that the day when the first rich ore comes out from under the tunneling complex will definitely remain in history,” said Dmitry Seleskerov, director of the Taimyrsky mine.

The introduction of new equipment is a strategic step by Norilsk Nickel in the formation of a new technological structure for the entire mining industry in Russia and the world. The project demonstrates how traditional industry, relying on scientific cooperation (St. Petersburg Mining University also participates in the project) and bold engineering solutions, is capable of making a qualitative leap, ensuring people's safety, nature conservation and economic efficiency.