The Velenje Coal Mine (PV) is one of the most modern underground coal mines in Europe, renowned for its patented Velenje Longwall Mining Method for extracting very thick lignite seams. To ensure efficient and safe coal production, PV applies systematic production planning on both annual and monthly levels.
The annual production plan defines target coal output volumes (e.g., approximately 2 million tonnes) as well as the scope of development works (preparation of new longwalls, haulage roadways, etc.) in accordance with the company’s business plan. The monthly operational plan provides a more detailed breakdown of activities (development drivages, longwall extraction, decommissioning of completed working faces, and maintenance of permanent mine infrastructure) and is continuously adjusted in response to the actual progress of work.
For this purpose, PV uses a combination of general-purpose tools such as Microsoft Project and Microsoft Excel. This paper presents the methodology for preparing PV’s annual and monthly plans, examples of applying the aforementioned tools in plan preparation, and an overview of modern mine planning software (e.g., Deswik, GEOVIA MineSched, Oracle Primavera, etc.).
Special emphasis is placed on the production activity plan (covering development, extraction, decommissioning, and maintenance), its operational implementation, real-time adjustment to changing conditions (e.g., unforeseen geological conditions), as well as performance control through daily reporting and achievement verification.
The study concludes that a combination of meticulous planning, flexible management, and modern software support tools enables PV to achieve its set production targets, while ensuring the timely identification and resolution of discrepancies between planned and actual work volumes.
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