EGAT Mae Moh Lignite Mine in Thailand produces about 16million tons of lignite annually from open-cut mining. The coalis used to generate 2,400 MW of electricity. In the near future,however, the coal must be extracted from underground at 400–500 m (1,312–1,640 ft) deep from the surface. The problem isthe thickness of the coal seams. There are two coal seams that areabout 25 m (82 ft) thick with 20–25 m (66–82 ft) of interburdenbetween them.Up to now, many mining systems for thick coal seams havebeen used and improved in the world. However, where thethickness of coal seams is beyond the limitation of the currentmining technology and system, an applicable mining system hasto be introduced, considering influencing factors such as cavingand subsidence.In order to investigate thick seam mining systems and proposea new mining system in ultra-thick coal seams in Thailand, a jointresearch group was established by Japanese and Thai researchersand mining engineers in early2009.This paper describes underground mining systems for thick coalseams and proposes an innovative underground mining systemfor thick coal seam, “eco-friendly underground mining system”,considering geological, geotechnical, and environmental conditionsin this mine. This paper discusses its applicability to this mine bymeans of numerical analysis from the geotechnical point of view.
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