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Luscar LTD. operates 2 strip mines outside of Estevan, SK (about 50
miles N. of US). Today they remove about 6.5 million tons a year with
an estimated 100 year supply in the mine areas. Most of the Lignite
coal is used by 2 nearby power plants but a substantial amount is
processed into Char and sold to Kingsford.
Luscar currently operates 7 draglines P&H9020, BE1570W, Marion8750-17A,
Ransomes-Rapier W1800, BE2570W, Marion 7800 and P&H
trackline(didn't get model #) with 17CY bucket). They load coal with
a BE195B track shovel and several CAT 772B's. In addition there are 2
"parked" draglines and one track shovel on the property- a
Marion 7400, a BE680W and a BE190B shovel.
The focus of my trip was the new P&H9020. With the help of the
Estevan Tourist office I was allowed access to and given a tour of
this wonderful new machine in full operation.
As you can see (pic1) by the size of the man on the ground, this is a
big mutha. The machine house is 100 x 118 ft. with a 350 ft. boom and
currently uses a 100 CY bucket. |
