Bilorichenska coal mine

Mine in Luhansk, Ukraine
Bilorichenska coal mine
Location
OblastLuhansk
CountryUkraine
Production
ProductsCoal
Greatest depth720 meters
History
Opened1957
Owner
CompanyGovernment of Ukraine
Websitehttp://shahta.com.ua

The Bilorichenska coal mine (Ukrainian: Шахта "Білоріченська") is a coal mine located in Belorechenskiy, Luhansk Raion of Luhansk region, Ukraine. As of June 1, 2011, the confirmed reserves of the mine were reported to be 11.6 million tons. [citation needed]

History

The designing and engineering of the mine began in 1949. The mine is nicknamed "Bilorichenska" after the Belaya River. The mine was placed in a region where "a burning stone" was found in chalk deposits in the 18th century. Construction of the shaft began in December 1950, with the surface structures following in September of the next year. The mine was commissioned and opened in 1957.[1][unreliable source]

From 1960 to 1970, the miners of Bilorichenska won several all-union socialist competitions. In 1975, the mine produced approximately 670,000 tons of coal, continuing at this production rate for the following 15 years.[2][full citation needed]

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, production decreased rapidly due to a lack of investments and technology. By 1996, coal production amounted to only 193 thousand tons. By this time, all the coal reserves of the coal beds Almaznyi and Kamenskiy series had been exhausted.[1] In September 2002, a new shaft commenced operation, equipped with a 3RD-90 heavy-duty complex.

During the following seven years, a series of faces along the L6 bed 725 meters horizon were put into production, namely: the original eastern, 5th western, 2nd eastern, 2nd western, 6th western, 5th bis western, 3rd western and 1st bis eastern. Each face was equipped with heavy-duty complexes and machines. In 2010, coal production at Bilorichenska amounted to 1.182 million tons. In 2011, one more face was put into production, the 7th western. Its production amounted to more than 100 thousand tons of coal per month.

Ownership

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the mine belonged to the state-owned Luhanskvuhillya coal mining group. In 2001, the mine declared insolvency and the recapitalization process started. In 2002, the mine obtained a strategic partner, Valentin-Invest, a holding company of Ukrainian businessman Igor Martynenkov, who obtained the majority stake in the mine while the state-owned shares decreased to 25.83%. The recapitalization plan was approved by the court in 2007. This decision was annulled by the High Commercial Court of Ukraine in 2010.[3]

In 2012, the court decided to return the mine to state ownership.[4] On 14 September 2012, the Ukrainian state took control of the mine by force. Some media sources link this action to the participation of Igor Martynenkov at the parliamentary election against the candidate of the Party of Regions.[5]

Production safety

At the mine territory, a rescue workers school was built, which later became the basis for the only mine rescue station in Ukraine. To reduce the danger of fire in the mine, the mine purchased 14 units of YUREK-6, which were used to equip the main and local conveyor lines with fire-fighting systems in 2004.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Bilorichenska Coal Mine". Global Energy Monitor. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  2. ^ "Tracker Map". Global Energy Monitor. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  3. ^ "ООО "Шахта Белореченская": банкротство как метод прихватизации?" [Bilorichenska Mine Ltd: bankruptcy as a method of grabbing?]. Ostrov (in Russian). 6 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Суд вернул шахту "Белореченская" в госсобственность из-за невыполнения обязательств инвестором – Луганская ОГА" [The court returned the Bilorichenska Mine to the state due to outstanding obligations by investor - Luhansk Regional State Administration]. Interfax-Ukraina (in Russian). 4 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Шахта "Белореченская": между бизнесом и политикой" [Bilorichenska Mine: between business and politics]. Delo (in Russian). 17 September 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  • Company’s official site