A gas reciprocating power plant, run on methane and capable of producing 110.5mWh of electrical power and more than 57.700 Gcal/hour of thermal power, has been launched by OAO Severstal at its Severnaya mine in Russia, owned by OAO Vorkutaugol.

The new plant is a key element of Vorkutaugol’s continuing energy efficiency drive, which has been active since 2010. The main contractor is ZVEZDA-Energetika.

According to Sergei Yefanov, Vorkutaugol’s CEO, the new gas thermal power plant is a priority investment and will provide approximately 80% of the mine’s electrical needs as well as half the company’s required thermal power.

It is estimated that the resulting electricity and heat savings at the mine will be 12% and 8% respectively.