Karviná Mine One Year After : Neighbours Turned into a Big Family

KARVINÁ – On Wednesday, 1st April it was exactly a year since in Ostrava-Karviná coal region the deepest colliery in Central Europe had been opened. It is called „Důl Karviná“ and it was formed by the integration of  two collieries: Lazy and ČSA. The reason for their integration was very simple: to streamline the management system and increase the effectiveness. Both objectives have been met.

 „Even though one year in mining business is a very short time we can be sure that the integration has brought about more positives than negatives. In the past we were like two neighbours watching each other over the garden fence. We were able to help each other, feel sorry for the other if something did not work for him. But each of us was running his own business. Now we have turned into a big family who cares for everything jointly. We are now much closer to each other and we have learnt to work together. Our joint effort resulted in improvements and more efficient activities,“ said the Managing Director of “Důl Karviná” Pavel Hadrava.

The current „Důl Karviná“is a giant complex with the mining area of 32 square kilometres. Last year production was 4.8 million tones of a high quality hard coal and 24 kilometres of operating galleries were driven. This challenging task was carried out by 5,820 people including both the employees of the mine and of the contracting firms Alpex, Carbokov, Bastav, VOKD, THK Čechpol and WPBK – BIS CZ.

At present there are nine breaking and twenty one driving teams working in “Důl Karviná” mines. In the company there are five „active“ coalfaces; three are being phased out and five more are being prepared for mining. The mine mainly operates in Karviná region but it also has a low seam called Natan, which is a part of  Ostrava coal measures. There is also another speciality and that is the ground transport of the workers to their work site, which is the only ground transport within OKD Group. The miners are brought to Doubrava III pit by buses from ČSA mine, which is about six kilometres far. At Doubrava III they are lowered to the worksite in the northern zone of Doubrava mining field.

Both collieries of “Důl Karviná” have a long history. At Doubrava, which was a subsidiary of  ČSA mine, coal was mined already in 1822. The preparation of Jan-Karel pit, nowadays called ČSA, started in 1856. Lazy mine celebrated its hundred years´ anniversary two years ago.

Nevertheless, “Důl Karviná” does not get old. On the contrary! A distinct feature of the company is an extensive modernisation. Three out of its five active faces are equipped with the latest technology acquired under POP 2010 Programme. At the moment the fourth mining machinery is being installed.

The mining machinery will be also complemented with modern driving machines that should arrive soon to both mines and the overhead transport system in the mine is being upgraded and a central venting project is in preparation. All miners are now provided with new personal protection aids under Safety 2010 Programme. The mine is undergoing a rejuvenation project and believes in its future.

(Bohuslav Krzyžanek)