OREANDA-NEWS.  January 24, 2012. Vladimir Putin’s opening remarks: Ladies and gentlemen, friends,   We are here today for an important meeting on the development of the coal industry. We will be discussing the development prospects of one of the basic industries in the Russian fuel and energy sector, the coal industry. We have approved general development plans for the oil and gas industries and the allocation schedule for the power stations, launched a comprehensive hydrocarbon development programme for Yamal and the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and are implementing the Eastern Gas Programme.

As I said, today we will consider one more key issue, one more strategic document – the long-term strategy for the development of the coal industry until 2030. We expect to approve an upgraded programme after the meeting. The first stage would run until 2015, the second stage until 2020 and the third stage until 2030. Total financing under the programme is estimated at 3.7 trillion roubles, including 251.8 billion in budget funds.

The overall economic progress and the growing efficiency of coal mining, which I am noting with pleasure, have allowed us to draft these ambitious plans and to outline goals such as our emergence in new markets and the development of potential deposits and deep coal processing. I’d like to remind you that a relatively short time ago, in the 1990s, some people in Russia proposed closing the industry altogether saying it lacked potential, as you most likely remember. Actually, people still say from time to time that the coal industry, or the machine-building or the automobile industry hold no promise, suggesting that we close them down and retreat into the taiga, where we will live by picking mushrooms and berries. But the coal industry is clearly gathering momentum and has confidently passed the test of the global financial and economic crisis with the assistance of the state and, I am happy to note, due to the responsible attitude of private business.

Just for reference: In 2011 the Kuzbass mines produced over 192 million metric tons of coal.