DOI: 10.18503/1995-2732-2026-24-2-188-200
Abstract
Problem Statement (Relevance). The reunification of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, with the Russian Federation has necessitated the development of new approaches to utilizing the human and natural resources of the Donbas under conditions where traditional markets have become inaccessible. The conventional approach to addressing this issue through the conservation and closure of mines does not eliminate maintenance costs and deprives a significant part of miners of their habitual employment, thereby aggravating the socio-economic and political climate in one of Russia’s most challenging regions. Therefore, there is a need for an innovative technical solution capable of addressing these challenges. Objectives. The purpose of the article is to develop an innovative approach to the technical problem of the integrated use of natural, human, and long underutilized infrastructural resources of the Donbas in the energy sector, aimed at solving the region’s social and economic problems by increasing its export potential. Methods Applied. The study employs expert assessment methods based on an innovation and logistics approach to the development of energy complexes, taking into account contemporary global technological trends and the strategic priorities of the Russian Federation. Originality. The authors have proposed a set of integrated organizational and technical solutions aimed at incorporating the region’s underutilized resources into economic circulation through the use of energy storage technologies and advanced coal processing. Result. Conceptual designs of integrated schemes for utilizing the energy potential of the Donbas have been developed. These schemes make it possible, in the near future, to employ the region’s natural, human, and long-inactive infrastructural resources while harmonizing the interests of all stakeholders involved in the project. Practical Relevance. The proposed organizational and technical solutions can be rapidly implemented using the existing industrial infrastructure and labor potential of the region.
Keywords
Energy, mining, Donbas, spoil heap, gravity energy storage system.
For citation
Grigoriev M.N., Shcheglov D.K. An Innovative Approach to the Integrated Use of the Energy Potential of the Donbas. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo Gosudarstvennogo Tekhnicheskogo Universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2026, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 188-200. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2026-24-2-188-200
1. Plenary session of the International Forum “Russian Energy Week”. Sayt Administratsii Prezidenta Rossii [Website of the Presidential Administration of Russia]. Available at: http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/speeches/78233 (Accessted on October 20, 2025) (In Russ.)
2. Zhdanova V.A. Donbas: Assessment of the coal heritage and prospects for innovative development of the industry. Innovatsionnye perspektivy Donbassa. Materialy 10-y Mezhdunarodnoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii. Donetsk [Innovative Prospects of Donbas. Proceedings of the 10th International Scientific and Practical Conference. Donetsk]. 2024:91-95. (In Russ.)
3. Tanatarov V.F. The state of the energy sector in Western European countries. Rossiyskaya nauka v sovremennom mire. Sbornik statey IV mezhdunarodnoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii. Moskva [Russian Science in the Modern World. Collection of Articles of the 4th International Scientific and Practical Conference. Moscow]. 2023:88-90. (In Russ.)
4. Popov S.M., Popova E.A., Tumoyan I.G. Economic estimation of the mineral resource base of Donbass: state and prospects. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Geologiya i razvedka [Proceedings of higher educational institutions. Geology and Exploration]. 2022;(5):94-100. https://doi.org/10.32454/0016-7762-2022-64-5-94-100. (In Russ.)
5. Tarash L.I., Golodnyuk R.A. On structural changes in the industry of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Mekhanizm realizatsii strategii sotsialno-ekonomicheskogo razvitiya gosudarstva. Sbornik materialov XVI Mezhdunarodnoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii. Makhachkala [Mechanism for Implementing the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of the State. Proceedings of the 16th International Scientific and Practical Conference. Makhachkala]. 2024:422-425. (In Russ.)
6. Penkov O.V., Polkovnichenko D.V., Tkachenko S.N. Historical stages of the development of the Donbas energy sector. Nashe nedavnee proshloe: sovremennye napravleniya sovetskoy istorii i istoricheskaya pamyat [Our Recent Past: Modern Directions in Soviet History and Historical Memory]. 2023:187-195. (In Russ.)
7. Zelentsova S.I. Overview of boilers with circulating fluidized bed. Energiya Arktiki-2023. Sbornik materialov Vserossiyskoy nauchno-tekhnicheskoy konferentsii. Arhangelsk [Energy of the Arctic-2023. Proceedings of the All-Russian Scientific and Technical Conference. Arkhangelsk]. 2024:105-108. (In Russ.)
8. Baranova M.P. Modern energy technologies. Nauchno-prakticheskie aspekty razvitiya APK. Materialy Vserossiyskoy (Natsionalnoy) nauchnoy konferentsii. Krasnoyarsk [Scientific and Practical Aspects of Agro-Industrial Complex Development. Proceedings of the All-Russian (National) Scientific Conference. Krasnoyarsk]. 2024:124-128. (In Russ.)
9. Tymochko O., Sotnikov O., Zazirnyi A., Kolodiazhnyi O., Dudchenko S., Makarchuk D. Development of a virtual environment for monitoring underwater electrical cables by an autonomous underwater vehicle based on fuzzy cellular automata. Problems of the Regional Energetics. 2024;(3(63)):130-145.
10. Uspensky M.I. Gravitational energy storage. Aktualnye problemy, napravleniya i mekhanizmy razvitiya proizvoditelnykh sil Severa-2024. Sbornik statey IX Vserossiiskoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii (s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem). V 2-h chastyakh. Voronezh [Current Problems, Directions, and Mechanisms for the Development of the Productive Forces of the North-2024. Proceedings of the 9th All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (with International Participation). In Two Parts. Voronezh]. 2024:199-205. (In Russ.)
11. Grigoriev M.N. The «Smart City» concept and its derivatives as a basis for state development under increasing environmental uncertainty. Sovremennye paradigmy ustoichivogo razvitiya regionalnyh sotsialno-ekonomicheskikh sistem v usloviyah rosta neopredelennosti vneshney sredy. Materialy Mezhdunarodnoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii [Modern Paradigms of Sustainable Development of Regional Socio-Economic Systems Under Growing Environmental Uncertainty. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference]. 2023:43-48. (In Russ.)
12. Yushkova A.E. Typology of Donetsk waste heaps. Problemy razvitiya sotsialno-ekonomicheskikh sistem. Materialy VIII Mezhdunarodnoy nauchnoy konferentsii molodykh uchyonykh i studentov. Donetsk [Problems of the Development of Socio-Economic Systems. Proceedings of the 8th International Scientific Conference of Young Scientists and Students. Donetsk]. 2024:186-188. (In Russ.)
13. Cheban A.Yu. Resource-saving technology for the formation of dumps using a modernized dump former. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2024;(22(2)):14-21. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2024-22-2-14-21. (In Russ.)
14. Samoylik V.G., Onishchenko A.S. Development of technical solutions for waste heap processing. Problemy gornogo dela. Sbornik nauchnykh trudov IV foruma studentov, aspirantov i molodykh uchenykh-gornyakov. Donetsk [Problems of Mining. Collection of Scientific Papers of the 4th Forum of Students, Postgraduates, and Young Mining Scientists. Donetsk]. 2024:210-213. (In Russ.)
15. Kurochkin A.I., Gabbasov B.M., Podbolotov S.V., Usov I.G., Pikalov V.A., Gavrishev S.E. Improving the efficiency of hoisting machines operated at great shaft-drilling depths and in mineral extraction. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2024;(22(2)):33-40. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2024-22-2-33-40. (In Russ.)
16. Slavikovskaya Yu.O. Economic assessment of the efficiency of field development considering the use of technogenic subsurface cavities. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2024;(22(3):13-21. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2024-22-3-13-21. (In Russ.)
17. International Energy Strategy of Turkey. Sayt Ministerstva inostrannykh del Turetskoy respubliki [Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey]. Available at: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkiyes-energy-strategy.ru.mfa (Accessted on October 20, 2025) (In Russ.)
18. Green bridge – The Trans-Caspian corridor is preparing for launch. Sayt E2energy [E2nergy website]. Available at: https://eenergy.media/news/32322 (Accessted on October 20, 2025) (In Russ.)
19. Grigoriev M.N., Vashchenko A.N., Pikalov G.E. An integrated approach to the restoration and development of Donbass energy sector. Aktualnye voprosy sovremennoy ekonomiki. Materialy VI Mezhdunarodnoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii. Sankt-Peterburg [Topical Issues of the Modern Economy. Proceedings of the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference.St. Petersburg]. 2025:41-43 (In Russ.)