The Sukhodilska–Skhidna coal mine ( uk, Шахта «Суходільська-Східна») is a large underground coal mine located in Southeast

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

Luhansk Oblast Luhansk Oblast ( uk, Луга́нська о́бласть, translit=Luhanska oblast; russian: Луганская область, translit=Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna, uk, Луга́нщина) is the easternmost oblast ...

. Sukhodilska–Skhidna coal mine represents one of the largest

coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is formed when dea ...

reserves in Ukraine, having estimated reserves of 157.4 million tonnes. The annual coal production is around 712,000 tonnes.

Bituminous coal Bituminous coal, or black coal, is a type of coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen or asphalt. Its coloration can be black or sometimes dark brown; often there are well-defined bands of bright and dull material within the seams. It ...

is mined using

longwall mining Longwall mining is a form of underground coal mining where a long wall of coal is mined in a single slice (typically thick). The longwall panel (the block of coal that is being mined) is typically long (but can be upto long) and wide. Histor ...

at depths between 785 and 1,028 m. The mine began operation in 1980.

July 2011 mining accident

Shortly before 2 a.m. on 29 July 2011 an explosion occurred underground in the mine. Initial reports indicated that at least 17 people were killed, and nine others were missing, but later all 26 were reported to have died.New Ukraine coal mine explosion as safety review launched
Platts.com, August 4, 2011 Investigators suspect the accident was caused by a powerful explosion of methane. Mykhailo Volynets, the head of the Independent Trade Union of Miners, called the Sukhodilska–Skhidna coal mine "one of the most dangerous in Ukraine" due to buildups of

methane Methane ( , ) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The relative abundance of methane on Eart ...

and

coal dust Coal dust is a fine powdered form of which is created by the crushing, grinding, or pulverizing of coal. Because of the brittle nature of coal, coal dust can be created during mining, transportation, or by mechanically handling coal. It is a form o ...

. The

President of Ukraine The president of Ukraine ( uk, Президент України, Prezydent Ukrainy) is the head of state of Ukraine. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, condu ...

ordered the government to set up a commission to investigate the accident. Later that same day, Ukraine experienced a second fatal coal-mining accident when an elevator collapsed at the

Bazhanov coal mine The Bazhanov coal mine ( uk, Шахта імені В. М. Бажанова) is a large coal mine located in southeastern Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast, in the industrial city of Makiivka. Bazhanov mine represents one of the largest coal reserve in U ...

References

External links

Global Methane Initiative The Global Methane Initiative (GMI) is a voluntary, international partnership that brings together national governments, private sector entities, development banks, NGOs and other interested stakeholders in a collaborative effort to reduce methan ...

Mine Details and reports
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sukhodilska-Skhidna coal mine Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine accident 2011 mining disasters Coal mines in the Soviet Union Coal mines in Ukraine Coal mining disasters in Ukraine Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine accident Economy of Luhansk Oblast Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine accident

July 2011 mining accident

See also

References

External links