ABSTRACT
Apart from achieving economies of scale through up rating of size and capacity of earth equipment, a new direction of technology development focuses on automation, cleaner mining systems and improving the reliability of machine performance. The mining industry is heading towards a technology driven optimization process. Surface mining has undergone tremendous change with the development in machine design and growth in information technology. Machanised longwall technology is a necessity for working deeper areas with adverse roof conditions, and high strata pressures, and for achieving improved safety, conservation, higher level of performance and economy. Appropriate longwall technology is available, it can be adapted to suit specific conditions in India with the objective to limit investments to what is tolerable by specific projects. The challenge lies in development of technology to help balance the minerals, economy and ecology equation by developing cost effective and environment.
