Growth in domestic coal consumption will reduce dependence on global market conditions - Putin

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Russia should focus on its domestic coal needs rather than the external market, which will eliminate difficulties with external market conditions, President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum.

"You mentioned coal miners who have faced [difficulties], who you said are going through tough times. Yes, they are tough in the sense that our [industry], the scale of the coal mining industry is large, and market conditions in external markets have changed," Putin said.

"But we should largely orient ourselves towards domestic needs and the domestic market," Putin said.

"If the domestic market consumes the amount we need, and we can use it efficiently, then there will simply be no difficulties with the external market conditions that have such an impact on the industry," he said.

The day before, Putin proposed assessing the possibilities of expanding coal generation in the Far East.