China Coal Group Sets New Record with 2,005-Meter Shaft

The auxiliary shaft of the Sanshandao Gold Mine, constructed by China National Coal Group Corporation (China Coal Group), has been safely completed with a final depth of 2,005 meters, setting a new record for the deepest shaft in Asia. This milestone marks a breakthrough in China’s ultra-deep mine construction technology.

Located near the coastline, the shaft has a clear diameter of 10.5 meters and faced five major challenges: high stress, violent rock bursts, heavy water inflow, severe corrosion, and high geothermal temperatures. China Coal Group addressed these difficulties through specialization and innovation.

Working in collaboration with universities, the team developed China’s first Type-VIII shaft sinking headframe, with a load capacity exceeding 1,000 tons, built an intelligent management and control platform based on BIM, IoT, and AI technologies, and deployed the nation’s largest shaft hoisting equipment, including a 5.5-meter-diameter mine hoist and a 50-ton sinking winch, creating a complete technical system for ultra-deep shaft construction.

During construction, the team achieved multiple breakthroughs: developing anti-corrosion grouting materials for marine conditions, and using an intelligent cooling system to keep the working face below 26°C despite geothermal heat of 53°C. Advanced blasting methods also effectively reduced rock burst risks.

This achievement not only pushes forward China’s capability in ultra-deep and subsea resource development, but also provides a “Chinese solution” for global ultra-deep shaft construction.