Optimizing Mining Production Plan As A Trade-Off Between Resources Utilization And Economic Targets In Underground Coal Mines

The paper presents multi-criteria optimization method allowing for selection of the best production scenarios in underground coal mines. We discuss here the dilemma between strategies maximizing economic targets and rational resources depletion. Elaborated method combines different geological and mining parameters, structure of the deposit, mine's infrastructure constrains with economic criteria such as the net present value (NPV), earnings before deducting interest and taxes (EBIT) and the free cash flows to firm (FCFF). it refers to strategic production planning. Due to implementation of advanced IT software in underground coal mines (digital model, automated production scheduling) we were able to identify millions of scenarios finally reduced to a few - the best ones. The method was developed and tested using data from mine operation "X" (a real project-an example of a coking coal mine located in Poland). The reliability of the method was approved; we were able to identify multiple production scenarios better than the one chosen for implementation in the "X" mine. The final product of the method were rankings of scenarios grouped according to economic decision criteria. The best scenarios reached NPV nearly 50% higher than the Base Case, which held only 52. position out of 60. According to EBIT and FCFF criteria, 10 scenarios achieved results higher than the Base Case, but the percentage differences were very small, below 2 and 4%, respectively. The developed method is of practical importance and can be successfully applied to many other coal projects.