The deal follows the delivery and operation of a Bucyrus FBL-10 load haul dump vehicle at the GDK5 mine in May 2008, the first modern diesel-powered LHD to be used at the coalface anywhere in India.

The GDK11a mine is a room and pillar operation operated by Singareni, which is jointly owned by the governments of Andhra Pradesh and India.

The two FBR-15 coal haulers will join a 30M4-NP continuous miner, a 7MFBH-48A feeder breaker, a Bucyrus/Fletcher roof bolter and an electrical package – all supplied by Bucyrus – in a five-year continuous miner project.

Singareni chose the FBR-15 model as it allows independent operation of underground vehicles without the need for infrastructure investment in cable routing. The new coal haulers also offer spare parts and consumables synergies with the FBL-10 already operating at the mine.

Bucyrus said a full hopper on the FBR-15 can be discharged in 23 seconds, which – in combination with rapid tramming from the coalface to the discharge point – helps keep cycle times to a minimum.

“It also has the safety and operational benefits of true-tracking four-wheel drive – where the front and rear wheels follow each other’s tracks around corners, a particular benefit in a room and pillar operation,” Bucyrus said.

“An additional advantage is that the FBR-15 can also be utilised during panel moves, when electrical power is not available and also for transportation of materials in and out of the working panel from outbye.”

The Bucyrus vehicles use “best-in-class” diesel engines – reducing airflow requirements – and the dry-filter exhaust system offers reduced exhaust emissions, with catalytic purifiers and particulate filters cutting diesel smoke emissions from exhaust gas to zero.

Singareni’s GDK11a underground coal mine has proven geological reserves of 8.791 billion tonnes.

With 78,000 employees, Singareni Collieries operates 13 surface and 42 underground mines in India.