New Challenges to the Deep Development of the Bulqiza Chrome Mines

Bulqiza chrome mine is one of the most important chromium mines and mining activities in Albania. It is the deepest mine in the Balkans and possibly even in Europe. Recently, the inner shaft of the mine reached a depth of 1000 m, measured from the surface, or −180 m below sea level. Like all deep metal mines, this mine also faces a different set of challenges during its development. The first and most important challenge is that of improving the degree of geological research and knowledge of this mine and assessment of geological resources and reserves according to JORC Code 2012 edition. In addition, a series of other challenges related to increasing the depth of the mine represent the object of this paper: rock and ore stability and the underground voids support; improvement of mining methods and technologies; groundwater and its pumping; temperature, air parameters and mine ventilation. Among other things, these problems were solved using various computation and simulation programs.