The rapid pace of changes in modern economic conditions is a serious problem for industrial companies on the way to effective economic activity and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Companies cannot control external factors, but their ability to be proactive, quickly and adequately respond to market requirements and trends through continuous improvement of internal business processes, including the planning process, plays a crucial role in achieving success and survival. The complexity, instability and uncertainty of the external environment places high demands on the analysis of current trends, their planning and forecasting. The complexity and uncertainty of the external environment also implies the presence of a large number and more advanced analytical tools for making effective management decisions. The authors of the article propose economic and mathematical tools for optimal planning of production activities in conditions of complexity, uncertainty and instability of the external environment in relation to coal industry companies. The proposed methodological approach to planning will make it possible to find the optimal solution from all possible alternatives that meets the efficiency criteria for both current market conditions and possible scenarios for the development of events in the short and long term, thereby reducing the impact of the external environment uncertainty.