JSC South Kuzbass, affiliated to JSC Mechel Steel Group, increased their coal output by 5.7% compared to last year.
More than eight million tons was produced by opencut and 2.22 million tons was produced by underground methods. However, it was the underground mine which was the star performer, lifting output by 839,000 tons compared to the first nine months of 2002.
A SKRIN report attributed the success of underground mining in South Kuzbass to the Sibirginsky mine, which started to operate in November 2002.
Russia’s SUEK coal operator also reported positive results for the first nine months of the year, shipping 15.22 million tons, up 5.2% on 2002 figures.
The coal was produced in the Irkutsk, Chita regions and the Buryatiya republic.
