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

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.