Belon, based in the city of Novosibirsk, told Prime-Tass the mine expected coal output to total 700,000-800,000 tonnes in 2004. The launch of the new face is expected to increase the mine’s coal output to 1.5 million tonnes in 2005.
Earlier this year, Belon said that it expects its coal output to increase 21% on the year to 3.1 million tonnes this year.
Belon group, established in 1991, comprises about 20 companies in Russia’s Kemerovo Region, including a coal producing company, transportation company, pipe plant, trading house, brewery, the first Siberian Investment Company IKSY and commercial bank Belon.