The resilience of the youngest underground mine in the coal industry

Those who have been attached to Nui Beo coal mine must still remember the image of vast open-pit coal layers, where hundreds of giant trucks carry blocks of earth and rock, where excavators stretch out under the sunlight. But then, when the open-pit resources gradually depleted, a historic decision was made. In 2017, Nui Beo Coal officially switched to underground mining, entering an unprecedented technological revolution. Having gone through many difficulties and challenges, the young Nui Beo underground mine has always strived and persevered in its goal of conquering the depth of the coal layer by mechanization.

In the early days of the project, many people were worried. Because underground mining is not simply digging deep into the ground, but also a race against complex geology, harsh working conditions and strict requirements on technology and safety. However, the quality of coal miners is never afraid of hardship.

Engineers from TKV and Nui Beo Coal at that time rushed into research, learning from experiences from modern coal mines around the world, gradually mastering new mining technology. The first meters of tunnel were dug with difficulty, advanced equipment systems were installed one after another, each rail and conveyor belt was completed.

To successfully carry out this historic transformation, in 2020, the Party Committee of Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company issued Resolution No. 89 on increasing investment in basic construction, focusing on investing in modern technology, especially tunnel support technology using anchor trusses, helping to improve efficiency and safety in mining.

"This is an important resolution to successfully implement the strategic goal set out at the 11th Party Congress of the Company, term 2020-2025, which is: Completing the transition to underground mining, achieving a designed capacity of 2 million tons of underground coal/year" - Mr. Nguyen Tuan Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company - Vinacomin emphasized.

During the implementation process, an equally difficult task for the Company was to ensure sufficient underground production human resources; while the mine's workforce at that time was entirely open-pit coal miners. The local human resources quickly and proactively changed tasks, promptly catching up with the work.

The company also immediately started implementing programs to recruit and train miners, with special attention to attracting workers from remote areas. To support the company, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group also transferred engineers, production managers and high-level miners from other units to work.

And then, hundreds of meters underground, an “underground city” gradually appeared, where the dim mine lights illuminated the people who were working hard day and night to conquer new coal layers. One of the most important milestones in the modernization process of Nui Beo Coal was the construction of a vertical shaft loading system with a depth of more than 400 meters - a project considered the “heart” of the underground mine.

Vertical shaft loading system - the "heart" of Nui Beo underground mine.

This vertical shaft loading system has a diameter of 6.5m, equipped with a super-heavy-duty transport elevator, helping to bring workers down to deep levels safely and quickly. In just a few minutes, miners can access the main shaft platform and from there spread out to all mining locations.

In March 2020, Nui Beo put into operation the first synchronized mechanized longwall with a capacity of 600,000 tons of coal/year. At that time, Nui Beo Coal was also one of the leading units in the Group in applying the technology of digging tunnel support with anchor beams, helping to improve efficiency and safety in mining.

At the end of 2021, the basic construction of the Project was officially completed and Nui Beo Coal miners welcomed the 1 millionth ton of underground coal. By 2022, the company had nearly 2,000 miners. These are important stepping stones for Nui Beo to reach higher output levels in the following years, and soon reach the design capacity of 2 million tons of coal/year.

Conveyor system transporting coal in Nui Beo furnace.

Underground mining is not only about digging down, but also about expanding the tunnels to access the best coal seams. With the vertical shaft coal mining technology, Nui Beo Coal has applied a series of modern technologies such as combined tunnel digging machines and anchor support technology, helping to increase productivity many times over. Nui Beo Coal has also invested in an automatic conveyor system, helping coal and rock to be continuously transported from underground to the surface quickly and safely. This system not only helps reduce labor costs, but also limits coal dust, contributes to environmental protection and improves mining efficiency.

Statistics from 2020-2025, Nui Beo Coal has excavated over 4.1 million ^m3 of earth and rock; produced approximately 8 million tons of coal; dug over 66,000m of tunnels, of which 10,295m of tunnels were anchored; consumed over 9 million tons of coal; revenue of VND 14,527 billion; profit of VND 325.5 billion. Average income reached approximately VND 20 million/person/month, exceeding 26% of the target set at the Company's Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term. In 2025, Nui Beo Coal strives to produce 2 million tons of raw coal, reaching the design capacity.

Nui Beo miners shout safety commands during shift change.

Mr. Le Quoc Khang, Deputy Director of the Company, said: Determining that this is not a simple task in the context of geological disadvantages and lack of underground human resources still being the biggest obstacles, since the end of 2024, Nui Beo Coal has built solutions to gradually overcome these difficulties. This year, we have conducted more thorough geological surveys, developed early production scenarios, and minimized the number of changes to focus on coal production. At the same time, Nui Beo also continues its journey to build a green, clean, modern underground mine appearance and take better care of workers.

Hoang Yen

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