Open pit "FIELD B" is the oldest coal mines in Kolubara Coal basin. In 2004 the production of coal had almost ceased due to operational and maintenance problems. In order to continue and increase much needed coal production, great efforts have been made at the time to modernize equipment and technology of overburden removal and coal excavation, so as to be able to increase its coal production level to 3 million tons/year. This included construction of new belt conveyors for coal and overburden transport as well as bucket wheel excavators. Besides, one of the main tasks was to increase the stability of the existing overburden disposal and coal front by introducing effective water drainage system.
Environmental Impact Assessment included estimation of the environmental impacts of mining activities, particularly addressing the following:
• impacts on air quality, estimated based on calculated dust concentrations in the vicinity of dust emission sources, such as: bucket wheel excavators, coal and overburden loading, belt conveyors, spreaders, draglines, bulldozers, etc.
• impacts on human health through the impacts of fine dust particles and noise generated in the region of mine activities
• impacts on freshwater quality due to waste waters discharged from the mine into the river Pestan
• impacts on ground water quality and quantity
• impacts on soil quality through changed soil structure and generation of new geological formations and landscape
• social impacts reflected on the nearby settlements, as a result of resettlement of nearby villages and infrastructure.
Services provided
- EIA scope application to the relevant Authority
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Public hearing
- Approval by the Ministry of Environment
Technical data
- Coal excavation capacity: 3 million tons/ year
Client
Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS)
