Modern experience of low-coal seams underground mining in Ukraine

Coal is the main energy resource in Ukraine. However geotechnological aspects of coal seams development and Ukrainian crisis have a negative influence on the mining industry. This article analyzes the experience in the development of very low and low-coal seams with 0.7–1.0 m thickness, as well as advanced technological solutions that allowed private coal enterprises, despite the difficult situation in the country, to maintain sufficient (more than 75% of all production) level of steam coal extraction for Ukrainian society. Given that Ukrainian’s mining sector development is a huge task, we hope this review will add some discussions into the ongoing conversation.