Russian watchdog, court halt coal mining at two mines in Kuznetsk Basin

KEMEROVO. March 7 (Interfax) - Russian industrial safety watchdog Rostekhnadzor and a court have ordered the suspension of coal mining at the New Mine Management Company's Bolshevik underground mine and at the Polosukhinskaya underground mine, both of which are located in Kemerovo Region, the aide to the head of Rostekhnadzor, Andrei Vil reported on Telegram.

The court suspended mining from a longwall at Bolshevik for 90 days after a worker was seriously injured. Industrial safety standards were violated in the operation of the powered support system and belt conveyor, Vil said.

Rostekhnadzor, meanwhile, suspended mining at a longwall at the Polosukhinskaya mine due to coal dust explosion hazard. The mine was also found to be violating industrial safety standards in the operation of its powered support system.

Polosukhinskaya is owned by St. Petersburg-based Rusugolholding LLC, according to the company's report for 2022. Rusugolholding, in turn, is owned by Stirakia ILLC, the former Cyprus-based Stirakia Holdings Limited, which redomiciled in the special administrative region in Kaliningrad. The redomiciliation process was completed in February, data from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities showed.