Novak says Russia has coal reserves for 500 years

Russia has enough coal reserves for 500 years. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak during his working trip to the Kemerovo Region on December 15.

"I can say that definitely our coal industry will continue to develop, we are third in the world in coal exports and production. We still have enough coal reserves for 500 years," the deputy prime minister said while communicating with employees of enterprises.

Novak stated the need to diversify the economy in the Kemerovo region, noting that it is impossible to depend only on the coal industry. He added that the growth of other types of economic activity is also important.

Also during his visit to the region, Deputy Prime Minister held a meeting on the socio-economic development of the region. During a bilateral meeting with the Governor of Kuzbass Ilya Seredyuk, the possibilities of supplying coal from Kuzbass to the domestic market and for export were considered.

Earlier, on December 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed during a meeting with the government to urgently develop a plan to support the Russian coal industry. Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev pointed out that the coal industry in Kuzbass will continue to develop and coal miners have great and long prospects in working in the industry.