Abakansky subsidiary of Evrazruda JSC (part of Evraz Group) has completed advancing of Kletyevoy groove air channel. The channel is designed for air delivery from the venting and air heating unit that is under construction on the surface to the floors below +65 meters and to the underground crushing complex at the floor of -95 meters.

Throughout November 2005 to August 2006, specialists of the stone drivages sector No. 21worked through about 40 meters of excavations from the surface to the Kletyevoy groove breakoff. The air channel was being advanced under difficult mining and geological conditions that included the mine slope grade, its filled-up nature and the soil watering.

When the venting and air heating unit will be launched, the air will be supplied through the channel to the deep mine floors of -200, -305 and -410 meters and ventilate the mine workings. Then the used air will go up Vozdukhovydayuschiy groove. In winter, the venting and air heating unit will also be supplying heated air preventing the groove from icing up.

At the moment, the building and assembly jobs at the building of the venting and air heating unit are completed, and the unit equipment, including the ventilator and the calorifers, is being installed inside the building. These operations are fulfilled by Stroitel Ltd., the contractor.

Launching of the venting and air heating unit and of the air channel is scheduled for the beginning of 2007.