OJSC Raspadskaya (RTS, MICEX: RASP) («Raspadskaya» or «the Company») announces launch of longwall 5Ю -7-28 bis. Commercial coal reserves in the longwall 5Ю-7-28 bis measure 2.7 million tonnes, with the panel of coal 254 m long and extraction column 1,914 m long. Average monthly output for Stage One is expected at 150 thousand tonnes. Coal will be extracted by JOY-3 shearer and further transferred by belt conveyors to the Raspadskaya processing plant.

The working section was prepared for launch in strict compliance with the OJSC Raspadskaya Recovery Project. All required works were performed to reinforce partitions, clear up the post-accident debris and restore communications. In July 2014, to ensure sustainable ventilation of the mine with a view of resuming extraction and launching longwalls 5Ю-7-28 and 4-9-25, the main fan VOD at -40 m and a support fan VTsP at -16 m were put in operation.

Sergey Stepanov, General Director of CJSC Raspadskaya Coal Company, commented on the launch: "Longwall 5Ю-7-28 bis will join two sections at Raspadskaya which have accounted for most of the extraction volume to date. The next priority for the Raspadskaya team is to launch another longwall 4-9-25 by the end of the year. It is quite doable, but we make a special focus on performing all necessary safety routines while launching the new sections to ensure uncompromised safety of our workers".

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