A tender opening session was held in Stanari on Friday, January 30th, for the procurement of the Continuous Overburden Excavation, Transport and Disposal System for the Stanari mine and the Coal Supply System from Stanari Lignite Mine to Thermal Power Plant Stanari. The two systems are to enable the annual production of coal at the Stanari mine to increase to 3.2 million tons annually, which is needed for the supply of the  410 MW TPP Stanari.

The new Overburden system is to comprise of: 

• Bucket wheel excavator, capacity 4000 m3/h
• Self movable belt conveyor, capacity 4000 m3/h
• Belt conveyor system for overburden transportation, capacity 4600 m3/h
• Overburden spreader, capacity 5500 m3/h.

The new Coal supply system is to have a 1000 t/h capacity and will comprise of: 

• Primary semi-mobile lignite coal crusher (coal inlet size 1500 mm; coal outlet size 200 mm)
• Coal transportation belt conveying system from primary to secondary coal crusher
• Secondary stationary coal crusher at power plant site (coal inlet size 200 mm; coal outlet size 40 mm)
• Combined stacking/reclaiming machine at power plant coal stockyard
• Belt conveying system from secondary coal crusher to power plant coal stockyard and boiler bunkers
• Auxiliary coal supply system equipment.

14 companies had bought the tender documentation, and six companies submitted offers. These were from: 

• FAM Magdeburg, Germany
• Sandvik, Sweden
• Takraf, Germany
• FLSmidth KOCH GmbH, Wadgassen, Germany
• Kopex S.A., Katowice, Poland
• Thyssen Krup, Germany (offer for the new Overburden system only)

The winning bid is to be selected following further negotiations. These should be completed by mid 2009.