The Russian steel producer Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has announced that in the first half of the current year its coal mining subsidiary Belon increased its coal output by 32 percent or by 996,000 mt year on year to 4.1 million mt, including 2.3 million mt of coking coal - up from 1.8 million mt produced in the same period last year.
In 2010, Belon plans to produce 8.2 million mt of coal, including 5.1 million mt of coking coal.
In 2009, Belon invested Ruble 271.7 million (about $9 million) in labor safety and safety measures. Meanwhile, in H1 2010 Belon spent Ruble 214.7 million (about $7 million) for these purposes, 140 percent more than in H1 2009.