Raspadskaya confirms halt to coal exports
MOSCOW. July 15 (Interfax) - Russian coal producer Raspadskaya's only concentrate exports in June, via the Far Eastern port of Vostochny, were shipped from Mezhdurechensk prior to the deadly blast at the mine there, the company said.
Following the blast at the Mezhdurechensk mine, the company decided to suspend coal concentrate exports indefinitely.
According to the production indicators published yesterday, Raspadskaya sold 1.544 million tonnes of coal concentrate in the second quarter, 31% less than in October-December. Domestic concentrate shipments declined 38% to 974,000 tonnes, while exports were down 13% to 570,000 tonnes. However, exports for the entire first half of 2010 were 2% higher than in the second half of 2009 at 1.223 million tonnes, while domestic shipments declined 28% to 2.554 million tonnes.
The company shipped coal to eight Russian consumers in June, including major steel concerns Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) , Novolipetsk Iron & Steel Company (NLMK) and Evraz Group, the press release says.
The coal production capacity that was shut down following the May 9 accident accounted for 76% of Raspadskaya's production in the first quarter, or 2.29 million tonnes.
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