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- Thermal circuit: The Ministry of Energy has prepared a draft strategy for the development of the coal industry
Thermal circuit: The Ministry of Energy has prepared a draft strategy for the development of the coal industry
The Russian Ministry of Energy has formed a preliminary version of a long-term program for the development of the coal industry until 2050, the Ministry of Energy told Izvestia. According to the ministry's press service, the document plans to reflect the current situation of the industry and clarify the forecast of demand for domestic coal. Izvestia investigated what support or regulatory measures are envisaged for companies in the coal sector in the coming decades, as well as how the program takes into account global trends in the transition to "clean" energy and reducing the carbon footprint.
The key player
Russian coal remains competitive both in terms of cost and consumer characteristics, the press service of the Ministry of Energy told Izvestia. Despite the difficult conditions, the industry keeps production volumes approximately at the level of the previous year, and enterprises continue to operate normally. Russia is consistently one of the key players in the global market: it occupies the third position among the largest exporters, second only to Australia and Indonesia, and is one of the six world leaders in terms of production.
Coal-fired generation provides about 15% of the country's total electricity, and in the regions of Siberia and the Far East this figure reaches about half. In addition, coal produces about 22% of heat in Russia, with the share rising to about 70% in the eastern regions.
"The Ministry has developed a program for the structural development and efficiency improvement of the coal industry until 2030. A working draft Program for the development of the Russian coal industry for the period up to 2050 has been prepared. Representatives of the scientific and expert community, representatives of coal companies and coal mining regions are involved in this work," the ministry said.
The draft program plans to describe in detail the current situation of the Russian coal industry, assess global trends in coal mining and international trade, and consider key risks and factors that could affect the further development of the sector. In addition, the document aims to form a long-term vision of what the industry could become in the future.
In Russia's Energy Strategy until 2050, coal is still considered as the most important resource. The country does not intend to abandon its use in the energy sector, relying on large-scale undeveloped reserves of thermal coal and the significant contribution of the coal industry to the economy.
Russia has approximately 6.9% of the world's coal reserves, which provides it with the fifth place, and in terms of production it occupies about 5% of the global level, holding the sixth position.
Today, coal still occupies a leading position among energy resources: it accounts for about 35% of global electricity generation, the Ministry of Energy emphasized. This resource remains one of the most affordable, and the improvement of coal-fired generation technologies makes it possible to produce energy with minimal or even zero emissions and virtually no waste.
According to the Ministry of Energy, global forecasts of coal consumption in the future may be adjusted upward. The increase in demand can be influenced by the growth of global energy demand against the background of an increasing population, accelerated urbanization, the spread of electric transport, the development of artificial intelligence and data centers, as well as the desire of states to increase the sustainability of energy supply through the diversification of energy sources.
Industry development
The Russian coal sector is facing serious difficulties: the financial situation of companies is deteriorating due to falling revenues, growing losses, a high tax burden, record low global prices and limited logistical infrastructure, Oleg Yemelchenkov, Associate Director for Corporate Ratings at Expert RA, told Izvestia. Sanctions and the risk of secondary restrictions force the sale of coal at a discount, but the demand for Russian coal remains due to its competitive price and quality.
To support the industry, he said, it is proposed to reduce operating costs through a moratorium on the indexation of railway tariffs, subsidies for logistics, the preservation of export quotas and the deferral of mineral extraction tax and insurance premiums. The long-term strategy includes the consolidation and closure of vulnerable industries, a shift to carbon chemistry, and the creation of an incentive tax regime with government subsidized interest rates.
Today, the development of the coal industry is shifting from increasing production to technological solutions, Daniil Gonenko, associate professor at the Department of Economics and Finance of the Public Sector at the Presidential Academy, told Izvestia. In the next 10-15 years, coal will remain the base of energy consumption in Asian countries, so it is not the volume of exports that is important for Russia, but the technological package: gasification and synthesis gas for energy and chemistry, modern systems for cleaning and trapping emissions, carbon chemistry, reducing methane emissions and transparent environmental data. Competitiveness will be determined by the quality of technology, not by price discounts.
The industry relies on three strengths — large reserves, stable Asian demand, and a well-developed engineering school, while limiting infrastructure and shipping costs. The strategy until 2050 assumes the formation of demand through long-term contracts, financing for a confirmed flow, securing the best available technologies and a single environmental monitoring contour. Ash and slag waste can become a raw material for cement and road materials, turning waste into an economic resource.
— A separate task is the development of coal regions. It is necessary to move from the logic of the "resource curse" to the logic of the "resource blessing". The university — medium business — anchor company cluster models work here around gasification, filtration technologies, coal chemistry and ash processing," he stressed.
Simple rules for investors, service contracts and new projects in reclaimed territories make it possible to transform the coal industry from a raw material sector into a driver of technology, exports and regional development. Environmental and industrial data are becoming a "second fuel" that strengthens the trust of partners.
The Russian coal industry is facing a shortage of equipment and specialists: domestic production does not cover the needs of the market, and its cost remains high, an expert from the Popular Front said in an interview with Izvestia. Analytics" by Natalia Blinova. The difficulties are compounded by a decrease in demand in domestic and foreign markets, especially for coking coal, as well as a shortage of young personnel, for example, in Kuzbass universities it is difficult to recruit students for coal enrichment courses.
For the long-term restoration of competitiveness, it is important to develop support measures that attract young people, including solving the housing issue and creating decent social conditions. Human capital is becoming a key factor in ensuring the efficiency and technological development of the sector.
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