Collapse at Rusal-owned Russian bauxite mine triggers safety probe

According to the regional prosecutor's office, two workers were injured and hospitalised following a wall collapse at a bauxite mine operated by a subsidiary of Russian metals producer Rusal (RUAL.MM) in the Urals.

The incident took place at a depth of 1,172 metres (3,845 feet) within the Cheremukhovskaya-Glubokaya mine, owned by Rusal’s subsidiary SUBR. The mine is recognised as the second deepest in Russia and ranks among the deepest globally. Authorities have initiated a safety compliance inspection at the facility in response to the incident.

SUBR confirmed that the collapse occurred when the wall of one of the mine workings gave way and added that the miners were promptly brought to the surface.

“The scene of the incident is being examined. Work at other mine levels is proceeding as planned,” the company stated.

The Cheremukhovskaya-Glubokaya mine is part of the North Urals Bauxite Mine. In 2015, RUSAL commissioned the first start-up complex of this mine. At that time, it received a health and safety inspection certificate from Russia’s consumer protection and human welfare watchdog, confirming that the mine's output complied with national health and safety standards.

In light of the current incident, attention has turned toward whether all standard safety and disaster control measures were in place and actively followed at the site. Typical measures envisaged for preventing such hazards include:

• Regular maintenance of garland drains and earthen bunds to prevent surface water inflow
• Deployment of high-capacity pumps to manage pit water
• Restricting access to unauthorised personnel
• Availability of firefighting and first-aid facilities in mining zones
• Mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as helmets, boots, and goggles
• Training and refresher courses for mine workers
• Operation of the mine under an approved Scheme of Mining (SOM) with a Progressive Mine Closure Plan
• Routine cleaning of the bauxite mine face and scheduled maintenance of equipment as per the manufacturer's guidelines

As the safety compliance investigation progresses, it remains to be seen whether Rusal effectively implemented these protocols at the time of the incident.