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.[2]
History
Production at the mine began in 1958,[3] 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.[3]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.[4][5] 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
Party of Regions.[5][6][7]
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 dustexplosion hazards.[3][8] 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.[3]
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.[9]President Yushchenko blamed the cabinet for failing to “implement safe-mining practices” in the coal industry.[10]
Accidents
The Zasyadko Mine has had seven serious mining accidents:
May 24, 1999 – 50 workers killed, 40 injured.[8][10][11]
August 19, 2001 – 55 workers killed, 34 injured.[12]
July 31, 2002 – 20 workers killed, two injured.[13]
September 20, 2006 – 13 workers killed, 61 injured.[14]