September 06, 2008

Kuzbass coal production sets record in 2007

Itar-Tass reported that the Kemerovo Region of Russia produced 180 million tons of coal this year so far. This is a record figure in the 100 years-long history of Kuzbass. The record, 180 millionth ton of coal was produced at the Krasnobrodsky opencast colliery. The production of coking coal has been showing an increase over the past three years. The figure for the current year is some 57 million tonnes as against 56.5 million tonnes in 2006.

Mr Valentin Mazikin first deputy governor of the Kemerovo Region, told Itar-Tass last weekend that the Kuzbass coal sector will produce 181 million tonnes this year, 7 million tonnes more than in 2006.

Mr Mazikin told that “The coal producing sector of Kuzbass has fulfilled all its commitments for domestic deliveries, including coal supply to power plants, metallurgical complexes, transport enterprises, the population and the agro-industrial complex. We have firmly taken to the path of the intensive development of coal production.”

According to the results of 2007, investments in the development of the coal sector amount to RUB 43.5 billion as compared to RUB 37.7 billion in 2006.. The money was spent, among other things, on the building and putting in operation of four coal enterprises this year. Mr Mazikin said “Special attention is being devoted to the processing of energy coal. The reduction of the percentage of ash in energy coal increases the heat release rate and, consequently, increases the sale price of coal. Some 120 million tonnes of ordinary coal, 66% of the overall coal output, will be processed at ore-dressing factories and ore beneficiation lines.”

According to his information, the increment of coal-production capacities will be 2.8 million tonnes and of ore dressing capacities 10 million tonnes.