Large-scale underground mining, new equipment and a better underground environment—result of research and development at LKAB, Sweden

摘要

Over the past ten years LKAB has, like many other large mining companies, experienced profound changes. Production has increased by nearly 70%, the number of employees has fallen by 45% and productivity (in terms of tonnes of final product per employee) has increased by a factor of three. The increase is due to concerted and sustained investment in research and development throughout the organization. The efforts that are being made underground to establish very large-scale sub-level caving (with sub-level intervals up to 32 m) are described, along with some other current developments. Brief mention is also made of the KUJ 2000 project, which is nearing completion at Kiruna.