Mining operations - Rana Gruber

In the underground mine at Ørtfjell in Municipality of Rana, it is decided to establish a new main level for the extraction of iron ore. LNS has secured a turn-key contract for this project.

The project involves establishing an access tunnel from the surface 340 meters above sea level to a new main level 100 meters above sea level. The tunnel is to be excavated as a spiral tunnel.

From the new main level, galleries are to be established, with a total length of 5,000 meters, equivalent to 150,000 cubic meters of rock. Two rock caverns are also under construction, totaling 18,000 cubic meters of rock. In these caverns the ore will be crushed, and waste rock will be transported to landfills.

A tunnel for a conveyor belt with a gradient slope of 1:4 will be established between the crusher and the existing silo. Through this tunnel the ore will be transported on conveyor belts to the silo for storage, before it is finally transported out of the mine.

Facts about the project

Project name

New main level in RG iron ore mine in Ørtfjell

Employer

Rana Gruber AS

Type of project

Galleries

Location

Mo i Rana, Norway

Contract period

November 2007 - November 2009

Form of contract

Mining construction contract – Main contract

Value

NOK 86 million

Description of project

LNS has secured the contract for construction of a new main level for Rana Gruber AS iron ore mine in Ørtfjell, Rana.

The project includes opening of approx. 6,000 m of galleries (approx. 177,000 m³ rock) and rock caverns (approx. 18,000 m³). Ore shall be filled into crushers and waste rock shall go to waste rock landfills.

The galleries are under existing quarries with extensive rock stresses requiring heavy rock support.