Mine Field Preparation and Coal Mining in Western Donbas: Energy Security of Ukraine—A Case Study

• Main Authors: Cabana, E.C (Author), Dychkovskyi, R. (Author), Haidai, O. (Author), Howaniec, N. (Author), Prykhodko, V. (Author), Ruskykh, V. (Author), Smolinski, A. (Author), Ulanova, N. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2022
• Subjects: Bearing pressure; Case-studies; Coal; Coal mines; Coal pillar; coal pillars; Coal production; Coal-mining; Electric power generation; Electricity production; energy sector; Energy sector; Energy security; mining; Production sector; Room and pillar mining; Ukraine; zone of bearing pressure; Zone of bearing pressure
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Ukrainian electricity production sector is in a critical situation. It is necessary to increase the coal production to ensure the continuity of electricity production. In this paper, an analysis of coal mining in western Donbas, Ukraine, was presented. The crucial thing is to increase coal production in this region. The new calculation schemes were proposed to increase coal extraction in Donbas mines. The coal pillar parameters, which are necessary for the effective control of the rock pressure caused by the stooping, were substantiated. The obtained parameters for the coal pillars will allow extracting more coal, safely and quickly dismantling the mechanized complex and effectively protecting the ongoing mine work. The case study helps determine the coal losses because of pillar leaving and to improve the stability of the main haulage roads located in the zone of the stooping effect as well as to achieve additional coal production in the mine. Such a technological solution allows to extract the coal more fully at the final parts of the extractive columns and to obtain an additional economic effect. The increase in coal production in coal mines of western Donbas will increase the energy security of all Ukraine. © 2022 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.