Russia ups coal production 5.5% in 7 mths
Tuesday, August 22nd 2006
Russia increased coal production 6.7% year-on-year in January-July to 174.73 million tonnes, the Russian Industry and Energy Ministry said.
The ministry said 69% of the coal was mined in the Kuznetsk and Kansk-Achinsk coal basins. Production in these coal basins rose 6.7% and 12.7% respectively. It grew 1.8% in the Pechora basin, but fell 7% in the Donets basin.
Russian coal exports to non-CIS countries came to tentatively 45.2 million tonnes, and exports to the CIS to 4.8 million tonnes.
Domestic market sales grew 3.5% to 112.8 million tonnes, including growth of 5.1% to 53.9 million tonnes to power stations but a drop of 0.1% to 22.7 million tonnes to steel mills. Sales to households, utility providers and agricultural enterprises fell 9.6% to 13.5 million tonnes.
