Interfax reported that Chelyabinsk Coal Company cut coal production 58.5%YoY in January to April to 364,300 tonnes.

The company shipped 333,900 tonnes of coal to consumers, down 56.3%YoY including 151,700 tonnes to the TGK-1 territorial generating company down by 61.7% and 149,700 tonnes to the OGK-3 wholesale generating company down by 55.8%. The company stopped producing coal for a few days at the end of January because new contracts had not been signed with it main customers, but production resumed in February.

Chelyabinsk Coal Company reduced production 13% in 2008 to 2.034 million tonnes of coal. Coal shipments fell 14.8% to 1.936 million tonnes.

Chelyabinsk Coal Company was set up with the assets of the bankrupt Chelyabinskugol. Its owners include CJSC Yuzhuralzoloto, based in the city of Plast.

The company has been reducing coal production for several years due to falling demand from its main customers.

(Sourced from Interfax)