Organizational and technological principles of the development of coal mines that extract the steam coal

The article examines key problems of modern underground coal mining, including the complication of mining and geological conditions, low realization of potential of modern high-performance equipment, tightening environmental requirements in the context of economic decarbonization, and unfavorable market conditions for energy coal. The research objective consists in scientific substantiation and development of comprehensive organizational and technological principles for coal mine development, ensuring effective adaptation to modern technological, economic, and ecological challenges. The methodological framework includes systematic analysis of underground coal mining conditions, benchmarking of best global practices, the “reference mine” concept as a tool for production process optimization, as well as innovative “smart mine” and “invisible mine” concepts. The main results include development of a modernization system for basic mining technologies, incorporating fundamentally new approaches to organizing development, extraction, and longwall move operations, as well as successful testing of advance degasification technologies using coal seam hydraulic fracturing. A critical discrepancy between the theoretical potential of modern equipment and its actual realization at the level of 20–25% has been established. The presented organizational and technological principles form a scientifically substantiated strategy for transforming underground coal mining into a high-tech, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient industry.

Meshkov А. А. Organizational and technological principles of the development of coal mines that extract the steam coal. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(11-1):198—219. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_111_0_198.

Meshkov А. А., Cand. Sci. (Eng.) Technical director, JSC SUEK Kuzbass, e-mail: MeshkovAA@sibcore.ru.

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