According to Bloomberg, Kuzbass Trade Unions chief Yuri Kaufman said ArcelorMittal had advised labour groups on March 2 of the plans to shut the Pervomayskaya and Anzherskoye mines.
The news service cited Kaufman as stating the company had already slashed staff by around 10% and cut wages by 30%, while the planned suspension of activity at the two mines could trigger lay-offs of 3200 miners.
Back in April last year, ArcelorMittal scooped up a Siberian coal portfolio from Russian steelmaker Severstal, including the two mines and another, Berezovskaya, for $US720 million.
ArcelorMittal wholly owns the Anzherskoye mine, has 99.5% of the Pervomayskaya mine and a 98.29% stake of the Berezovskaya mine.
Known as the world’s largest steelmaker, ArcelorMittal lost $US2.6 billion in the December quarter, compared to a $3.8 billion net profit in the previous quarter.
In November, ArcelorMittal announced it would slash steel output from operations in Europe, North America and emerging markets by 30-35% during the December quarter as a result of weaker steel demand.
