SVEA

WATCHERMINE is installed at the "Svea" mine in Spitzbergen, Norway. The installation was carried out by Tunnelcom AS. Four zones are covered by a single reader making the installation very cost efficient. This was also the first installation where EX approved equipment was used by Tunnelcom AS.

The Spitzbergen Mining Scheme
The Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry (Nærings- og handelsdepartmentet) is responsible for the laws and regulations regarding mining activities on Spitzbergen. At the discussion of the Svalbard Treaty (Svalbard=Spitzbergen) the coal resources were of great importance. It was included in the 1920 treaty that Norway was to establish a Mining scheme for Spitzbergen. The scheme was established in 1925 and includes all the conditions regarding mining rights, obligation to work in order to maintain mining rights, how to run the mines and more.

Background
"The mine in the cold north", Svea North is the future of mining company "Store Norske". The mine is located in the "Sentralfelt" and is the largest coal deposit discovered on Spitzbergen. A total of 72 million tons of coal is estimated to be commercially available in the Sentralfelt, from which 32 million tons can be made available through Svea North. December 2001 the Norwegian government decided to establish permanent mining operations in Svea North, and the mine has an estimated lifetime of 25 years with today’s mining activities.