Coal miners of SUEK-Krasnoyarsk are actively developing the direction of deep processing of brown coal

SUEK-Krasnoyarsk specialists spoke about the work on deep processing of brown coal mined at open-pit mines in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Cost optimization, coal chemistry, new cost technologies and deep processing – such priorities for the development of the domestic coal industry were highlighted by the State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Dmitry Islamov, speaking at the plenary session of the International Scientific Symposium “Miner's Week”. He emphasized that “today we need new technologies and non-standard solutions from the scientific community, which will reduce costs and ensure a new stage in the development of the coal industry.”

SUEK-Krasnoyarsk coal miners have been actively working in the direction of deep processing of brown coal for a long time. More than 20 years ago, together with scientists, the company began to implement a unique investment project and launched pilot industrial production, and in 2007, on the basis of the Berezovsky open-pit mine, the first installation for partial gasification of coal in a fluidized bed was put into operation.

The unique technology made it possible to launch the production of a new product – thermocoke. Subsequently, a whole range of innovative materials was developed on its basis: in 2013, coal miners began producing briquetted fuel for metallurgy, and in 2017, they launched production of “Siberian briquette” – a smokeless fuel that is actively used for heating in the private sector.

In 2020, the first stage of a complex for deep processing of brown coal was built at the Berezovsky open-pit mine. Today, in addition to fuel briquettes, the company produces lining material for the aluminum industry and sorbent for oil refining. The total design capacity of the enterprise is about 30 thousand tons/year.

Currently, at the Berezovsky open-pit mine, construction is underway on a complex for the production of coal sorbent of increased size and with improved strength characteristics.

“In 2024, pilot production was launched, and at the moment more than 890 tons of product have already been produced,” says Roman Polevoy, technical director of the Berezovsky open-pit mine. — In order to launch the production of a new type of sorbent on an industrial scale, at the beginning of 2025, construction began on a new complex consisting of departments for coal preparation, gasification and drying of coal, a preparation area and shipment of finished products. The installation of metal structures for technological equipment is now being completed.”

It is noteworthy that several gasifiers for the new production were manufactured by service enterprises of coal miners – Borodinsky and Nazarovsky RMZ (branches of ESC SUEK LLC).

“Coal from the Kansk-Achinsk basin is an ideal raw material for deep processing, since it contains a minimum of sulfur and is low-ash,” notes Sergei Stepanov, head of the department of innovative coal processing technologies of JSC SUEK-Krasnoyarsk. “Thanks to the new technology of layered gasification of brown coal, the Berezovsky open-pit mine will produce high-pressure thermocoke, sorbents for metallurgy, oil refining and waste incineration plants.”

The commissioning of a complex for the production of coal sorbent of increased size and with improved strength characteristics will not only expand the range of products, but also strengthen the image of the Krasnoyarsk Territory as an innovation leader.