State-run coal company to develop mining robot

SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's state-run coal company said Thursday it
plans to spend 3 billion won (US$2.2 million) to develop specialized mining
robots to reduce costs and boost competitiveness.
The plan calls for remote-controlled robots to replace of miners to help reduce
outlays and danger to workers, Korea Coal Corp. (KOCOAL) President Jo Gwan-il
told reporters.
He said robot development may take two to three years, with the machines to be
used to detonate dynamite, drill holes and transport coal out of mines.
"The robots, which will be the first of their kind in the world, are to be
deployed in 50 mining tunnels throughout the country, which could raise
productivity by up to 50 percent," the executive claimed.
Jo added that better productivity could allow local coal, which is roughly 20
percent more expensive than imports, to gain price competitiveness on the market.
The president also said efforts will be made to harness exhaust generated by
large fans used to recycle air in mines to turn wind turbines that can in turn
create power, and to build solar panels on corporation-owned land not used for
mining.
Other projects being considered to diversify the corporation's business sphere
call for the development of coal gasification processes, securing overseas mining
rights and importing foreign bituminous coal.
"If such plans are carried out in a timely manner, the company should be able to
post positive gains in terms of profit," he forecast. The company has been hit
hard by the government policy to reduce coal mining, with debt totaling 1.3
trillion won as of last year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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