OREANDA-NEWS. EVRAZ plc (LSE: EVR) ("EVRAZ" or "the Company") announces the launch of Yerunakovskaya-VIII Mine, a part of Yuzhkuzbassugol UCC, JSC, located in Kemerovo region.

 The project’s costs totalled USUSD 390 million. According to survey results the deposit of quality coking fat and gas fat coal (grade Zh and GZh) at Yerunakovskaya-VIII amounts to 300 million tonnes, and the mine is expected to reach its planned production capacity (2.5 million tonnes of coal annually) by 2014.

 The mine was designed and constructed with a special focus on operational safety. It has high-performance equipment, all extraction and conveying processes are automated, and full illumination is provided at the faces. A system of underground video monitoring of both working and development faces, as well as of all conveyor transport chains has been organised. Multi-functional position control, emergency alerts, and aerogas control systems have been implemented, and two degassing stations have been constructed.

 New generation treatment facilities have been installed in the mine, providing multi-stage treatment and purification of mine and surface water, and in addition a new modern administrative household complex has been constructed.

 "The construction of Yerunakovskaya-VIII is one of the priority projects for EVRAZ, and is in line with its strategy of business growth. Yerunakovskaya’s launch will increase the production of quality coals, and strengthen the vertical integration of the company", said Alexander Frolov, EVRAZ's CEO.