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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Coal industry in the USSR today

Journal Article · · World Coal; (United States)
OSTI ID:6355625

A particular feature of the Soviet national economy is the priority given to the development of the fuel-and-power base in which the coal industry holds an important place. Coal provides about a third of total USSR energy requirements and meets the ever increasing needs of the national economy. In spite of the higher rates of oil and natural gas production, coal is still the major source of fuel for steam generation and completely meets the needs of the iron and steel industry. Coal is also widely used as a chemical feedstock. In 1977, coal output in the USSR amounted to 722,000,000 tons of raw coal--over four times the output in 1940. The main concern of the Soviet coal industry development program is given to the expansion of surface mining. Productivity at surface mines is nine times higher than at underground mines. The application of automatic and remote control of mining equipment and installations has been substantially expanded. The introduction of such control for conveyors, skip loading devices at pit-bottoms, technological facilities at the mine surface, and winches on waste heaps is almost complete. The automation of mine fans, pumps, loading points in mines and other installations and machines is nearing completion.

OSTI ID:
6355625
Journal Information:
World Coal; (United States), Journal Name: World Coal; (United States) Vol. 4:11; ISSN WOCOD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English