New Open-Cast Mine May Be Constructed In Taimyr Autonomous Area

The Governor of the Taimyr Autonomous Area (in the South of Krasnoyarsk region), Alexander Khlopnin, and the Director General of the Krasnoyarsk Coal Company (Krasugol), Viktor Guskov, are going to examine the possibility of constructing a new open-cast coal mine near Khatanga, with a production capacity of 120 tons of coal per year, the "Krasugol" press-service reported. Experts plan to complete feasibility studies this year. According to them, the cost of the project is estimated at 250 to 300 million rubles. The Taimyr Autonomous Area now needs 80,000 tons of coal per year. The local Kotui mine produces around 50,000 tons of coal, with the shortage covered by coal shipments from the Kayerkansky open-cast mine, 2,800 km away. Owing to high transportation costs, local consumers cannot afford to buy it. The construction of a new mine is necessary, since coal reserves of the Kotui mine are running out and will be exhausted in the next five or six years.

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