Will World's Richest Coalfield Be Connected with Baikal-Amur Railroad?

No later than in April 2002, the Commission appointed by the government of Russia must come up with a decision concerning the continuation of the construction of a 320 km-long access railway from Baikal-Amur Railroad to the coalfields in Elga, South Yakutia. According to the PR Department of Russia's Ministry of Railroads, such is the statement made today by Vadim Morozov, the First Deputy Minister of Railroads of the Russian Federation. At this time, Mr. Morosov is in the middle of his trip to Russian Far East checking on adherence to the collective agreement the ministry signed with the Trade Union of Railroad Employees for the year 2001. Mr. Morozov said, 'There has been no change as to the position of the Ministry of Railroads concerning the necessity of the intensive development of the zone of Baikal-Amur Railroad and that of the world's richest coalfields containing enough fuel to cover the needs of the Far East for the next 500 years. However, the ministry lacking funds necessary for such development, investors must be looked for, which is being done. The government will arrive at a rational decision taking into account all existing factors and the interests of all involved'. The construction of the access railway connecting the Ulak rail station with the coalfield has been suspended since early in January 2002.