OREANDA-NEWS. On 19 May 2008 was announced, that during January-March 2008 Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK) mines produced 26.78 mt and sold 28.7 mt of coal. The production rose by 12.5% and sales grew 20% compared to the same period last year.

The highest growth was registered in domestic sales - 26% as compared to the first quarter of 2007. Russian consumers were supplied 22.1 mt of coal, of which 12.5 mt was delivered to power utilities. The domestic sales growth was due to the increase in coal demand from some power utilities.

SUEK export sales increased by 3% to 6.6 mt. Coal was primarily supplied to UK, Korea, Japan, Poland, Ukraine, and other countries.