Reportage in Bergsäkert 2023#1
More tunneling in the Kristineberg mine and Rävliden
Since January, Bergteamet has ramped up operations in Kristineberg and Rävliden. Expanded assignments with the Ola develop and preparation in Rävliden mean developing an additional 5000 meters of tunnel over the next two years. This work also means that more employees and machines are on site. The site is currently one of Bergteamet’s largest.
“This is very exciting. Our skilled workers have done a great job since we started here, and we have received positive feedback from Boliden for our efforts. Thanks to the expansion, we have increased staffing by about ten more employees since the turn of the year, which means we have around 55 employees in the area,” says Bergteamet’s site manager Daniel Lithell.
In connection with this, Bergteamet has also strengthened the machine fleeet with an extra drill rig, two bolt rigs, and a loader.
“We have excellent machines here. Many are of the latest type and the newest you can have,” says Daniel.
Drilling and loading efficiently
In Rävliden, Bergteamet is partly trying to work in a new way.
“We drill and load in a two-boom rig with a basket. This means that we drill and load from the same drill rig. It is not very common in mines in Sweden, but it is a smart and efficient method when developing a single face,” explains Daniel.
Tunneling and test mining
The Kristineberg mine and Rävliden are adjacent to each other. Since early 2022, Bergteamet has been working on developing the Ola drift between Kristineberg and Rävliden and some tunneling in Rävliden.
The difference now is that the work will be more extensive than before. The Ola tunnel, which is developed both from above and below, will be connected and completed. In Rävliden, Bergteamet will develop tunnels for main ramps, crusher hall, transfer station, as well as workshop and parking spaces.
Additionally, Bergteamet is developing two fronts at levels 755 and 780 in preparation for Boliden’s test mining in Rävliden.
Bergteamet’s assignment also includes installing brackets for construction media such as electricity, water, and pump lines in the Ola drift.
Daniel Lithell is Bergteamet’s Site Manager in Kristineberg and Rävliden. The expanded assignment makes the site one of Bergteamet’s largest workplaces right now.
Major investment in an exciting mining area
Kristineberg and Rävliden together form an important area where Boliden is investing heavily for the upcoming production mining. Recently, Boliden received an expanded mining permit in Kristineberg, including Rävliden, for 1.2 million tons of ore.
The Ola tunnel is also particularly interesting because it will house a state-of-the-art electric trolley line for fossil-free ore transport.
Work with Consensus
Bergteamet has been working on tunnel developing in Kristineberg for just over a year with good results. One of the success factors is the close cooperation.
“We work very well together and have close and almost daily contact with each other. We operate with open communication, and the atmosphere is very good,” emphasizes Daniel Lithell.
Hans Sandström, Boliden’s construction manager, agrees.
“We have a great collaboration. Nothing is impossible. We discuss together, have consensus, and move forward quickly.”
“Collaboration is crucial and means a lot to both of us at Boliden and Bergteamet. We can discuss openly and solve most things together. It is very important for a good project and a successful outcome,” says Hans Sandström.
Reportage in Bergsäkert 2023#1