Program to boost coal industry efficiency ready, soon to be signed - minister

MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - The program to boost the efficiency of Russia's coal industry is completely ready and will be signed soon, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev told reporters last Thursday.

"The program to increase the efficiency of the coal sector is completely ready, essentially agreed with everyone. We expect to sign it soon, after the holidays," Tsivilev said.

The Energy Ministry presented a draft program to support the coal industry in mid-March that calls for measures to improve logistics, develop international cooperation, and support coal mining regions and single-industry towns, as well as proposals for financial and tax support for the industry.

One of the programs main objectives is to maintain the volume of coal exports and attract investment to the industry that is needed to support coal production, the ministry said.