Mechel, one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, has announced that its subsidiary Southern Kuzbass Coal Company's washing plant has produced the first coking coal concentrate from coal mined at the Elga deposit in the Sakha Republic of eastern Russia.
A sample lot of 4,000 mt of coking coal from Elga was washed at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company's Sibir plant.
According to Mechel's statement, with the use of coking coal from the Elga deposit, Mechel's coke and chemical facilities will be provided with fully internally-sourced fuel, guaranteeing independence from external suppliers. Elga Coal Complex's products will also enable Mechel to increase exports of coal grades that are in demand.
Production at the Elga open pit began in August this year, since when it has produced 200,000 mt of coal.