Coal in Russia



Coal supplied over a tenth of energy in Russia in 2022. The prominence of coal power in Russia has been declining since 1990, although Russia has among the largest coal reserves in the world. Russia is the fifth largest consumer of coal in the world and is the sixth largest producer of coal. It is also the world's third largest coal exporter, vying with Australia and Indonesia for markets. It causes pollution in Russia and climate change.

Coal production
The major areas of coal production are the Moscow, Pechora, Kuznetsk, Kansk-Achinsk, Irkutsk and South Yakutsk basins. Over two-thirds of coal produced in Russia is used domestically.

Coal consumption
Russia is self-sufficient in coal, and consumed 323 million tons of coal in 2009. The percentage of coal in Russian power generation has been declining since 1990, when it was 20.7%, due to growing gas consumption as well as rising nuclear and hydroelectric energy production. In 2022 18% of Russia's electricity was generated from coal, and there was 40GW of installed capacity.

Pollution
Coal mining is damaging health and the environment. Some greenhouse gas emissions by Russia are from coal. Carbon capture and storage is not cost effective. Russia, known for its extensive use of coal, is one of the world's top greenhouse gas emitters. The country maintains the world's seventh-largest fleet of coal-fired power stations, which significantly contribute to its carbon emissions. This reliance on coal is particularly impactful because the vast majority of emissions in the energy sector come from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for power generation or to fuel vehicles and machines. Despite Russia's investments in renewable energy and nuclear power, the persistent dependence on coal challenges its ability to combat climate change effectively. Many of Russia's heavy industries are coal-dependent, further complicating the nation's efforts to achieve its announced goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. It is essential for Russia to reduce its reliance on coal and amplify its investment in green technologies to mitigate its environmental impact and meet its climate targets.

Exports
Most Russian coal exports go to Asian countries, with China being the largest market with a quarter of exports. Coal power plants in Turkey, such as Emba Hunutlu, which burn imported coal prefer Russian because it is cheaper than imports from other countries.

The significant reliance on rail transport is evident as about 45% of Russian rail cargo was coal as of 2021. However, the limited eastbound rail infrastructure from the Kuzbass region, a major coal-mining area, to the Pacific Ocean often leads to congestion and delays. This congestion is particularly problematic given the high demand from Asian markets.

To address these challenges, in 2023, the capacity of Russia’s eastern railways was reported at 185 million short tons, with an estimated throughput of 90% (166 million short tons). The Russian government has recognized the need for improvement and plans to increase the capacity of eastbound railways to 231 million short tons by 2030, with an intermediate target of 198 million short tons by 2025. This expansion is crucial to better meet the increasing demand from Asian countries and ensure more efficient delivery of coal exports.

History
Russia was sixth in the world in terms of coal production. It produced 323 million tons of coal in 2009, roughly 4% of the world's total production. As the overall Russian economy shrank in the 1990s following the fall of the Soviet Union and transition to a market economy, coal production decreased as well, falling from a production of 425 million tons in 1988 to 232 million tons in 1998.

Coal production began to rise as the Russian economy rebounded following the 1998 financial crisis, but failed to reach Soviet-era production levels as it peaked at 329 million tons in 2008. Production once again declined with the effects from the 2008 global economic downturn and as world coal prices fell. Coal prices began to recover in 2010 and supported an almost 10 percent rise in Russian production until 2012. The trend continued even as world coal prices fell, as the devaluation of the ruble made Russian coal exports more competitive globally.

Personal ranks and rank insignia
In 1947, personal ranks were introduced for the personnel of the coal industry and mining construction, as well as uniforms with rank insignia on the collar patches of tunics, jackets, great coats, and summer blouses. The personal ranks were abolished in 1954, for the coal industry and mining construction, as well as for most other civilian departments and agencies.