Leading Russian mining company Nornickel is approaching the testing phase of the unique Norda mining tunneling complex, which promises to set new standards in the industry. The machine, weighing about 700 tons and 160 m long, is already being transported to the Taimyrsky mine of the Polar Division in Norilsk. Tests are scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, with a focus on mining rich ore in the Severnaya-4 deposit.
The complex is designed for record-breaking tunneling speed and increased safety. The drilling and blasting method has been replaced by mechanical rock fracturing. The technology has been in development for over a decade.
The absence of explosions reduces risks for personnel, and the built-in emergency capsule, developed in collaboration with partners, ensures autonomous stay of the crew underground for up to a month.
«Norda» is fully automated: all parameters — from performance and downtime to the state of systems — are digitized in real time and transmitted to the surface. In the long term, this will allow a transition to an unmanned mining model, starting with the automation of mine haulage of ore trucks.