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Primorye utilities switchover to gas not to affect coalmen--view

"Of course, everyone wants tariffs to go down and the environment to be affected to a lesser extent. Transition to the use of gas is essential for achieving that

VLADIVOSTOK, October 27 (Itar-Tass) — The conversion of the power industry of Primorsky (maritime) Territory to the use of gas is not to have an adverse effect on the coal industry personnel, First Vice-Premier Igor Shuvalov said on Thursday at a meeting with the residents of the Mikhailovsky municipal district where the main coalmining enterprises of Primorye are located.

"Of course, everyone wants tariffs to go down and the environment to be affected to a lesser extent. Transition to the use of gas is essential for achieving that. As far as the coal industry personnel proper is concerned, the Territorial administration must create new possibilities for coal workers to be able to get trained in a new profession.In any case, though, noone intends to dismiss them overnight," the First Vice-Premier emphasized.

Shuvalov promised that assistance will be given to the Novoshakhitnsky township's coal quarry with an outlet to new sales markets, including those in the Asia-Pacific Region. In particular, this may be done by means of a large-scale logistics project which will be implemented in conjunction with foreign partners.

When the power stations of Primorye fully switch over to the use of gas, about 2.5 million tonnes of coal from the Pavlovsky colliery will be released from turnover. In accordance with the Territorial administration's assurances, two million tonnes of coal will be sent out to a new Ussuri central heating-and-power plant (TETS) and the rest of the amount will be sent out to the Territory's boiler-rooms which will change over from the use of liquid fuel to coal. However, a timeframe for the construction of the new TETS has not been decided upon so far, whereas the switchover of the main power-generating sources to theuse of gas in southern Primorye has already begun.