The Centre of Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) has received provincial funding toward the development of a canopy that will protect underground miners from falling rock.
Premier Kathleen Wynne was in Sudbury on Sept. 26 to announce a grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC) in the amount of $783,916 for phase one of the single heading lateral development project.
It included the creation of an advanced canopy, designed and constructed by Mining Technologies International, to withstand falls of ground, while allowing for parallel activities of support and drill processes at the development face. The canopy allows mining companies to develop tunnels faster while keeping workers and equipment safe.
The design incorporates two overlapping canopies: a face canopy to protect the face machine and operators; and a support canopy to protect the support machine and operators. This allows for the drilling and charging of the face to occur while ground support can be installed behind the face equipment. The design enables the face canopy to contract, partially collapse, and allows for travel inside the support canopy to and from the face.
Faster development of mineral deposits additionally results in an earlier return on investment.
The province also announced $100,000 for the Sudbury-based Canadian Mining Industry Research Organization (CAMIRO) to test filters to protect miners from pollutants from underground diesel equipment.
By reducing the volume of fresh air ventilation needed in mines, it will lower operating costs, which will help companies extend mine life and retain jobs. It is estimated this will indirectly create as many as 20 jobs and could retain as many as 500.
