Kazakhstan increases coal production

The volume of coal production in Kazakhstan went up 29.7 percent to 34.8 million tons in the first five months of 2003, the press service of the Kazakhstani Energy Ministry reported to RBC. Over January-May 2003, the total volume of coal supplies reached 33.7 million tons, including almost 12 million tons in exports (10.7 million tons to Russia and 800,000 tons beyond the CIS). Kazakh electrical energy companies received 21.5 million tons of coal. The 2003 planned coal production will total at least 74.7 million tons.