Kuzbass coal production down 6.2% in 7 mths
KEMEROVO. Aug 6 (Interfax) - Russia's coal-rich Kuznetsk basin (Kuzbass, Kemerovo region) reduced coal production 6.2% or 6.6 million tonnes year-on-year in the first seven months of 2009 to 99.4 million tonnes, the regional administration said.
This included 28.6 million tonnes of coking coal, down 21.9%.
Coal production on a monthly basis grew for the first time this year in July, by 3% year-on-year to 16.1 million tonnes, including 5.1 million tonnes of coking coal, up 15.9%.
Coal shipments rose to 16.2 million tonnes in July this year, from 15.7 million tonnes a year previously, including 7.8 million tonnes for export (6.2 million tonnes).
Coal production in the seven months grew 1.231 million tonnes at OJSC Sibir-Ugol, 1.106 million tonnes at CJSC Yuzhkuzbassugol and just over 1 million tonnes at OJSC SUEK-Kuzbass.
Coal companies had 13.2 million tonnes of stockpiled coal as of August 1.