KEMEROVO, March 27. /TASS/. Russia’s coal production statistics will include output in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in 2024, with its scale projected at 443.5 mln tons, the Russian Energy Ministry’s department head Pyotr Bobylev told a conference.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier that the country’s coal production decreased to 438.7 mln tons in 2023. Russia’s coal exports fell by 3.9% last year to 212.5 mln tons.
"Coal production started to fall not only due to the introduction of the fifth package of sanctions. Excluding Donbass, last year [production amounted to - TASS] 438.7 mln tons. The general picture of the past years is clear, with output standing at the level of 440 give or take 2-3 mln tons. Donbass did not stay on the sidelines, having contributed almost 5 mln tons of real production, real consumption in Donbass’ electricity. Consequently, the total figure across the country starting this year, with the LPR and DPR included, will be 443.5 mln tons," Bobylev said.
According to Russia’s Energy strategy through 2050, coal remains one of the main resources for operation of the energy and metals industry, as well as exports, he noted. "We are very much interested in exports. In 2023, we slightly fell compared with 2022, by around a couple of percent. But, in any case, almost 213 mln tons. But losing 70 mln tons [exported previously - TASS] to the West and almost replacing them with Asian-Pacific countries and Turkey is telling," the official noted.