Russian Energy Ministry expects 'small increase' in coal supplies to Asia-Pacific region this year

MOSCOW. March 15 (Interfax) - Coal exports from Russia to Asia-Pacific countries this year are expected to be slightly higher than in 2022, Deputy Energy Minister Sergei Mochalnikov told reporters.

"Coal exports to Asia-Pacific countries amounted to just over 140 million tonnes in 2022, and we expect a small increase in 2023," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an article for the Energy Policy journal in February that coal exports to the Asia-Pacific region were expected to rise 1.5-2-fold by 2030.

Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said on Wednesday that Russia could keep coal production flat in 2023.

The EU and Britain imposed an embargo on coal imports from Russia on August 10. The EU estimated half of its annual 8 billion euros of coal imports came from Russia.

New markets will have to be sought for around a third of Russian coal exports after the EU embargo on coal imports from Russia comes into effect and due to the halt in shipments to Ukraine, Mochalnikov said at Russian Energy Week 2022 in October.