Van Heck has won the massive contract to pump out the Kolubara Mine in Serbia. A total of 20 diesel driven HK700 pumps with a combined total capacity of more than 100.000 m3/hour and more than 9 km of pipework are currently being transported to the mine.
The Kolubara mine flooded in May of this year when the river Kolubara broke its banks after extreme rainfall. Estimations of the amount of water in the mine vary between 140 and 185 million cubic meters, all of which will have to be pumped out before the mine can become operational again.
The mine, about one hour’s drive from the capital Belgrade, provides coal for the nearby power station. This power station, which supplies approximately ¾ of Serbia’s electrical power, is now running on coal brought in by trains from other areas and electricity is being bought in from neighbouring countries. A very costly exercise.
Van Heck has started loading and expects to fill more than 120 trailers with material in the coming fortnight. The first pumps are expected to be operational within 6 days.
We will keep you up to date about this massive project!
