MiningWatchSEE: Valorisation possibilities of remaining coal reserves in Serbia

Positively evaluated idea that by finding more adequate solutions, deposit “Bajovac” is activated as replacement capacity for the Ibar Mines.

In the context of the issues of West Morava basin future coal mining, analysis of deposit “Bajovac” unambiguously determine the validity of its reopening. This is the conclusion of the paper written by Nebojsa Vidanovic, Rade Tokalic, Ljubinko Savic and Suzana Lutovac, experts from the Mining and Geology Faculty in Belgrade and Faculty of Technical Sciences in Kosovska Mitrovica. The research was conducted within the project TR 33029 “Studying the possibilities of valorization of the remaining coal reserves in order to ensure the stability of the energy sector of the Republic of Serbia”, which was financed by the Ministry of Education and Science. Expert paper “Justification of re-exploitation of coal in the deposit “Bajovac” was published in 2013, in the journal” Mining and Metallurgy Engineering Bor”.
Coal is the main energy potential of the Republic of Serbia. More than half of electricity produced in our country is from this resource, which means that it is necessary to activate new potentially exploitable deposits of this raw material.
West Morava coal seam constitutes a unique coal site in the territory of Bresnica – Tavnik – Ladjevci. Mine “Bajovac”, located in the northeastern part of the basin Cacak – Kraljevo. The total area of the basin is 1000 km², while productive coal mine area of “Bajovac” mine, covers an area of 1.5 km². For years, the coal is mined in the area Bresnica – Tavnik – Ladjevci from four coal mines: “Bresnica”, “Voljace”, “Tavnik” and “Bajovac”.
Rudnik “Bajovac” is located near village Ladjevci, near Kraljevo. On the basis of data from exploration drill holes in the Pannonian-Pontian coal series, two coal zone were established – upper with two coal seams, and lower with five, where only the upper has an economic value. After the tectonic display of basin, of raw materials, technical and technological conditions of exploitation, dynamics of production and operational life, the authors conclude that a detailed techno-economic analysis of the deposit “Bajovac” unambiguously determine the validity of its reopening. The basic idea with which the authors managed to this, is to activate this deposit as replacement capacity for the Ibar mines until the moment of finding an adequate solutions.
For the analysis of the possibilities of coal exploitation from this deposit, available technical documentation was used, with simultaneous consultation with relevant experts. Study proposed basic technical solutions of opening, methods of excavation, required workforce in number and structure, as well as the necessary equipment. Economic analysis, which included costs, market prices and other relevant indicators, given the positive results. Therefore, in general, this project may be positively evaluated.

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