Russian consumers owe USD 6 bln to Kazakhstan coal suppliers

ASTANA. January 22. KAZINFORM /Zauresh Balkenova/ Russian consumers owe about USD 6 bln to the Kazakhstan coal suppliers, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev said at the sitting of the board yesterday, Kazinform reports.

In this view he noted that ?the volume of export supplies will depend on consumers? financial solvency?. Speaking on the tasks of the coal sector for 2009 the Head of the Ministry said there would be no conceptually new decisions. According to the Ministry, coal output in Kazakhstan made 104.9 mln tons in 2008 that is 12% higher against 2007. As is known, the Government of Kazakhstan approved a 2020 Concept of Kazakhstan coal industry development. In order to improve reliability of coal supply ?SamrukKazyna? National Welfare Fund has purchased 50% of shares of the country?s largest company ?Bogatyr Access Komir? LLP.