I suspect that coalmining in China is not as far beyond as maybe inferred by
the previous postings, in 1981 I spent three months working on Longwall
Installations in the Datung coalfields. The numerous installations that I was
involved in were state of the art at that time, applying primarily British
equipment and achieving comparitively reasonable outputs. Fully mechanised
Longwalls had been employed in Datung since at least 1973, with British,
Russian and Polish involvement.
In 1981 a Technology Transfer Agreement was made between British Manufactures
of both Power Loaders and Powered Roof Supports. The Chinese produced
shearers were tendered internationally one year later. Just a snippet, hoping
it helps.
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