Zasyadko coal mine

Zasyadko Mine ( _uk. Шахта ім. Засядько) is a coal mining company in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk. The manager and alleged owner of the company is Yukhym Zvyahilsky, influential businessman and politician within the Party of Regions. Along with its economic, technological and political importance, the company, namely its coal mine, is infamous for being the site of repeated mining accidents with numerous fatalities. The deadliest disaster, the worst in Ukraine’s history, happened on November 18, 2007, killing 101 miners. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7124192.stm "Four dead in Ukraine mine blast"] , BBC News, December 2, 2007]

History

Production at the mine began in 1958 [Гірничий енциклопедичний словник, т. 3. / За ред. В. С. Білецького. — Донецьк: Східний видавничий дім, 2004. — 752 с. ISBN 966-7804-78-X (Mining dictionary, Ukrainian language)] , which makes Zasyadko one of the newest and best-equipped mines in Donbas coal region and the whole Ukraine. [ [http://www.rian.ru/incidents/20071118/88585156.html Метан, или "гремучий газ". Смертельный враг шахтера] RIA Novosti, November 18, 2007] Since foundation, the mine is named after Alexander Zasyadko, one of the Soviet Ministers of Coal Industry.

In 1992, Zasyadko Mine was turned into a "rented enterprise" (practically privatised by the employees) together with several auxiliary industries. [Гірничий енциклопедичний словник, т. 3. / За ред. В. С. Білецького. — Донецьк: Східний видавничий дім, 2004. — 752 с. ISBN 966-7804-78-X (Mining dictionary, Ukrainian language)] Yukhym Zvyahilsky, the then-manager of the mine and influential local businessman, retained his post and gained informal control of the new company's assets. [ [http://baza.proua.com/b/1862 Бизнес-досье Шахта им. Засядько, ОП] ] [ [http://baza.proua.com/p/164 Бизнес-досье Звягильский Ефим Леонидович] ] Mr. Zvyahilsky has been the acting Prime Minister of Ukraine for a short time in early 1990s and a member of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of all convocations. He is known as an influential member of the ruling Party of Regions. [ [http://baza.proua.com/p/164 Бизнес-досье Звягильский Ефим Леонидович] ] [ [http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/pls/site/p_deputat?d_id=833 Звягільський Юхим Леонідович] Verkhovna Rada official dossier] [ [http://janukovicha.clan.su/kandidat/zvyagiksky.htm Unofficial dossier] ]

Today, Zasyadko is one of the most successful companies in Ukraine's crumbling coal industry, [ [http://www.rian.ru/incidents/20071118/88585156.html Метан, или "гремучий газ". Смертельный враг шахтера] RIA Novosti, November 18, 2007] able to support high volumes of coal excavation and maintain stable salaries for the miners. As of 2003, the company produced 4 million tonnes of coal. [Гірничий енциклопедичний словник, т. 3. / За ред. В. С. Білецького. — Донецьк: Східний видавничий дім, 2004. — 752 с. ISBN 966-7804-78-X (Mining dictionary, Ukrainian language)] It has also expanded into other fields of local industry and commerce. [ [http://baza.proua.com/b/1862 Бизнес-досье Шахта им. Засядько, ОП] ]

Mining dangers

The Zasyadko Mine is one of the most dangerous coal mines in the world due to naturally high levels of gas (particularly methane) and coal dust explosion hazards. [Гірничий енциклопедичний словник, т. 3. / За ред. В. С. Білецького. — Донецьк: Східний видавничий дім, 2004. — 752 с. ISBN 966-7804-78-X (Mining dictionary, Ukrainian language)] [ [http://www.rian.ru/spravka/20071119/88646124.html Шахта им. А.Ф.Засядько в Донецке. Справка] RIA Novosti, November 19, 2007] Additionally, gradual exhaustion made the mine as large as having 6 shafts and, most importantly, very deep. As of 2004, depths of excavation varied from 529m to 1270m. [Гірничий енциклопедичний словник, т. 3. / За ред. В. С. Білецького. — Донецьк: Східний видавничий дім, 2004. — 752 с. ISBN 966-7804-78-X (Mining dictionary, Ukrainian language)] According to the management, the mine is equipped with up-to-date and continuously renovated safety-monitoring systems. [ [http://www.rian.ru/incidents/20071118/88585156.html Метан, или "гремучий газ". Смертельный враг шахтера] RIA Novosti, November 18, 2007]

However, an independent mining expert recently claimed that the company is interfering with its hazard-measuring equipment on a regular basis, in order to present underground situation as being within the safety standards, and so to prevent closure by the government inspectors. [ [http://1plus1.tv/tsn_news/tsn_archive/?date=2007-11-22 Перша версія трагедії у Донецьку] (TSN news on Channel 1+1), November 22, 2007 ( [http://iplus.com.ua/topnovini/novini/chornahronika/20071122_12455_30186.php video of the report] )]
President Yushchenko blamed the cabinet for failing to “implement safe-mining practices” in the coal industry.cite news|title=Ukraine's mine death toll rises|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7103086.stm|work=BBC News|date=November 20, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-20|language=English]

Accidents

The Zasyadko Mine has had seven serious mining accidents:
*May 1999 – 50 workers killed, 40 injured.cite news|title=Ukraine's mine death toll rises|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7103086.stm|work=BBC News|date=November 20, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-20|language=English] [cite news|first=Dmitriy|last=Korneychuk|title=Methane blast at the mine of Zasyadko|url=http://pk.kiev.ua/country/2007/11/18/113822.html|work=Gazeta po-Kievskiy|date=November 18, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Russian] [ [http://www.rian.ru/spravka/20071119/88646124.html Шахта им. А.Ф.Засядько в Донецке. Справка] RIA Novosti, November 19, 2007]
*August 2001 – 55 workers killed, 34 injured.Fact|date=December 2007
*July 2002 – 20 workers killed, two injured.Fact|date=December 2007
*September 20, 2006 – 13 workers killed, 62 injured.Fact|date=December 2007
*November 18, 2007 – 101 workers killed, dozens injured (2007 Zasyadko mine disaster).
*December 1, 2007 – 52 workers injured. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/02/europe/EU-GEN-Ukraine-Mine-Blast.php#end_main 4 killed in new explosion at coal mine that was site of Ukraine's worst mining disaster - International Herald Tribune ] ] [ [http://www.korrespondent.net/main/218982 Корреспондент » Украина » События » Из шахты Засядько на поверхность выведены все горняки ] ]
*December 2, 2007 – five workers killed, 30 injured. [ [http://www.korrespondent.net/main/219086 Корреспондент » Украина » События » Число погибших на шахте им. Засядько возросло до 5 человек ] ]

References