More than fifty coal-fired plants in Russia are already under threat of closure, according to a report by Russian Deputy Energy Minister Dmitry Islamov. write The Moscow Times.
"According to the Ministry of Energy, the so-called red zone, which includes enterprises that are stopped or on the verge of stopping, currently includes 51 enterprises, that is, mines and open pits," "the official noted at a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy. In total, as of the beginning of 2024, 179 coal mining enterprises (52 mines and 127 cuts) were operating in Russia," the publication says.
The severe crisis that has hit the Russian coal industry after the loss of European markets and the tightening of international sanctions is escalating, the publication writes.
Islamov stated that according to the results of 2024, the losses of the Russian coal industry amounted to 112,6 billion rubles and the situation continues to worsen. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Energy stated that the same loss was suffered by coal enterprises according to the results of January-May 2025 (112 billion rubles).
"By the end of the year, the industry's total loss could reach 300-350 billion rubles - a level comparable to the annual budgets of large regions of Russia.", - writes The Moscow Times.
The Russian Ministry of Energy calls the key factors behind such indicators the indebtedness of coal companies (the amount of loans is 1,2 trillion rubles) and the situation on foreign markets (decline in demand and a four-year low for coal prices), as well as the unfavorable ruble exchange rate.
