A new overburden spreader with an annual capacity of 12 million cubic metres has been commissioned at the “Radljevo” open-pit mine, the youngest site within the Kolubara mining basin. Weighing 1,550 tonnes and measuring 125 metres in length, the machine forms part of the largest investment in mining equipment in the history of MB “Kolubara”, aimed at enhancing coal production and ensuring Serbia’s long-term energy security.
Dušan Živković, General Manager of Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), emphasised that the commissioning of the new spreader marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the most important mining investment project — bringing the “Radljevo” mine into full operational capacity.
- The new equipment will enable more efficient removal of overburden and the opening up of new coal reserves at the replacement pit. By creating the conditions for the long-term exploitation of coal at ‘Radljevo’, we will further strengthen the security of supply to our thermal power plants. Since the beginning of the year alone, EPS has invested nearly €60 million in improving coal production here in Kolubara. For the needs of the new ECS system, the route for machine movement has been constructed, complex electromechanical works have been completed, functional testing has been carried out, and a connection to the dispatch centre for control and supervision has been established, thereby ensuring safe and reliable operation, Živković stated.
The commissioning ceremony was also attended by Ivan Janković, Assistant Minister for Geology and Mining at the Ministry of Mining and Energy, who noted that this investment forms part of a broader plan to develop EPS’s mining capacities and ensure the country’s energy stability.
- The development of the ‘Radljevo’ mine is one of the prerequisites for maintaining stable coal production, and consequently electricity generation in Serbia. Total investments in two ECS systems for this site amount to €180 million, and once fully operational they will enable the disposal of 16 to 19 million cubic metres of overburden per year. The goal is for all new systems to be completed by the end of the year,” Janković said.
In the initial phase, the new spreader will operate alongside the “Glodar 10” and “Glodar 900” excavators, while the completion of the assembly of a new bucket-wheel excavator — currently in its final stage — is expected at the beginning of autumn. At the same time, six new belt conveyers have already been connected to the ECS system, representing a key component of its future operation.
