Deadly blasts hit Siberian mine despite $1 bln investment

[Kshasty]

The Raspadskaya mine, where at least 43 people died in an accident at the weekend, was one of the world's most technically advanced coalmines after a major investment program, a Russian business daily reported on Tuesday.

Vedomosti reported that over the past five years $1 billion had been invested in equipment and safety at the west Siberian mine, where 47 people are still missing underground following the two explosions, which also injured 70 people.

Russia's biggest coal mine producing 10% of coking coal in the country, Raspadskaya is characterized by excessive concentrations of methane, a gas that is released from coal or surrounding rock strata in the process of coal mining, Vedomosti reported

Therefore, about $1 billion was invested in the coalmine to make it the world's most technically outfitted mine, including in terms of methane safety, Kemerovo Region Governor Aman Tuleyev said, according to the paper.

http://en.rian.ru/business/20100511/158967783.html