Russia’s Severstal can relaunch Severnaya after 3 mos of repairs

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb 29 (PRIME) -- The Severnaya mine operated by Russian steelmaker Severstal’s coal production unit Vorkutaugol will resume operations after about two and a half to three months of recovery after three explosions earlier this month, a representative of Vorkutaugol told PRIME on February 28.

“By now, under preliminary estimates, this (recovery of the mine) will take about two and a half to three months. After that if everything is successful, we will be able to start the recovery of the mine’s underground part infrastructure and after that relaunch it,” the representative said.

Severnaya saw a first rock bump on February 26, two more followed during the weekend. Of 110 miners who were working at the mine at that moment, 80 people were evacuated and four found dead. By now, the death toll estimate is 36 people, including rescuers.

Alexander Goncharyenko, a spokesman for the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological, and Nuclear Oversight, said that the accident was due to a natural disaster.

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