Raspadskaya Coal Company (Raspadskaya), the second largest coking coal producer in Russia, has announced that it has started the preparation works for the commencement of the face 4‐9‐21 bis (seam No. 9) at its Raspadskaya mine, after the design for commencement of the face received authorization from Rosglavekspertiza, the government body responsible for approval of design plans.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, the company temporary suspended the operations at Raspadskaya mine following the accident which occurred on the night on May 9 this year. From Q1 2010, Raspadskaya plans to produce over 500,000 mt of concentrate per month, allowing it to resume exports which were also stopped as a result of the accident. The pre-accident production levels at Raspadskaya mine will not be restored until 2012, Raspadskaya's CE Gennady Kozovoy said.