The Kemerovo regional government said that the launch of new coal mines in 2012 will help boost 2012's output at Kuzbass, Russia's largest coal basin, to a record high of 195 million tonnes.

The 1.5% increase from 192.1 million tonnes in 2011 will be achieved due to the start of operations at the Pervomaisky, Kyrgaiskiy Novy, Berezovsky and Chernigovskaya Koksovaya mines.

Western Siberia's Kuznetsk Basin or Kuzbass is Russia's main coal deposit and saw massive development during the Soviet industrialization of the 1930s. It accounted for 60% of a total of 335 million tonnes extracted countrywide in 2011.

According to a regional development plan, Kuzbass coal output is expected to soar to 261.8 million tonnes by 2025.

Many Russian coal producers remain bullish on coal production, despite sluggish markets which many global miners say have depressed prices to below cost levels.

Source - Reuters

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