SCHACHTBAU Kazakhstan team celebrates another milestone.

On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, the team of TOO SCHACHTBAU Kazachstan completed a breakthrough at the upcast air way No. 1, achieving another important milestone in the development operations at the Donskoy GOK mine. This breakthrough created another direct connection between the service shaft at the level -480 m and the ventilation shaft at the level -400 m. In this way, an effective through-flow ventilation was created. This successful connection allows a more productive discharge of blasting works from the level -480 m through the upcast air way No. 1 and the ventilation shaft. Therefore, the preconditions have been created for the client to start mining operations at the level -480 m, scheduled for the end of 2024.

The upcast air way development was started in March 2021 by a tunneling team at the level -480 m using self-propelled equipment. In July 2023, the development started with a counter face from the level -400 m. The drift with a total length of more than 1900 m was developed using conventional drill-and-blast method with combined anchor and shotcrete support.