MINEX Forum

Tag: Coal Production

  • Kazakhstan Plans 11% Rise in Coal Output to 128.9 Million Tonnes in 2026 as Investment Surges and New Licences Come to Market

    Kazakhstan Plans 11% Rise in Coal Output to 128.9 Million Tonnes in 2026 as Investment Surges and New Licences Come to Market

    Kazakhstan’s mining operators plan to increase coal production by 11% in 2026, targeting output of 128.9 million tonnes against the 115.9 million tonnes extracted in 2025 — itself a 7% increase on the prior year — according to Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov, speaking at a government session.

    The accelerating production trajectory is backed by a significant uplift in sector investment. Approximately 553.5 billion tenge is earmarked for the coal industry in 2026, nearly doubling the 305 billion tenge invested in 2025 according to data drawn from mining contract work programmes. Before the end of the year, the Ministry of Energy also plans to hold an auction offering subsoil use rights across approximately ten coal deposits, signalling continued confidence in the sector’s expansion.

    Kazakhstan holds the world’s tenth-largest coal reserves, with 33.6 billion tonnes of the fossil fuel contained within its subsoil — sufficient to sustain extraction at current rates for more than 300 years. The country’s coal base underpins both its domestic energy system and a growing export trade.

    Of the 115.9 million tonnes produced in 2025, 85.9 million tonnes were directed to domestic consumption, serving the municipal heating sector, power generation and industrial users. A further 30 million tonnes were exported, with Russia, Poland, Uzbekistan, Turkey, India and Malaysia among the principal destination markets.

  • Kazakhstan Coal Output Declines in January Amid Long-Term Power Expansion Plans

    Kazakhstan Coal Output Declines in January Amid Long-Term Power Expansion Plans

    Coal production in Kazakhstan declined in January 2026 despite the government’s long-term plans to expand coal-fired power generation capacity.

    According to official statistics, output of thermal coal reached 9.92 million tonnes in January, down 1.7% compared to the same period last year. Total coal production, including coking grades, amounted to 10.31 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 0.7%.

    The modest start to the year comes as the government prepares a coal power development programme through 2030, which предусматривает the commissioning and modernisation of approximately 7.6 GW of thermal power capacity.

    In 2023–2024, Kazakhstan’s thermal power plants consumed around 55 million tonnes of coal annually. With the rollout of new energy projects, additional demand could rise by up to 16 million tonnes per year, requiring increased output and more stable supply chains.

    Bogaty r Komir, the country’s largest private coal producer, plans to raise production to 45.2 million tonnes in 2026 and further expand to 56.5 million tonnes by 2032. The company’s primary resource base is the Ekibastuz deposit, which holds estimated reserves of approximately 2.4 billion tonnes.

    For full-year 2025, Kazakhstan’s total coal production reached 115.9 million tonnes, marking an increase of around 6.5% compared with the previous year.

  • Uzbekistan Targets Higher Coal and Uranium Output as New Projects Advance

    Uzbekistan Targets Higher Coal and Uranium Output as New Projects Advance

    President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed progress and future plans in Uzbekistan’s coal and uranium sectors, with officials outlining measures to expand production and improve efficiency.

    Coal output for the 2025–2026 autumn-winter season is expected to reach 10 million tonnes, 1.3 million tonnes more than the previous season. So far, 9 million tonnes have been produced, up 590 thousand tonnes year-on-year. Authorities have set a higher benchmark of 11 million tonnes for the following season.

    To meet these targets, the government plans to accelerate development of deposits in Tashkent and southern regions, expand selective mining, and привлечь additional excavators and outsourced equipment. Increased private sector participation is expected to add 2.5 million tonnes of coal production in 2026.

    Particular focus was placed on the Nishbosh deposit in Angren. The nearly $500 million project, with reserves of 233 million tonnes, is scheduled to begin production in 2026 at 1 million tonnes annually, with long-term capacity projected at 10 million tonnes per year. The development is expected to create 880 permanent jobs.

    Officials also presented a $5 billion initiative led by  to establish polymer production based on deep coal processing. The project aims to process 8–9 million tonnes of coal annually and produce 1.18 million tonnes of polymer products.

    In uranium, Uzbekistan produced 7 thousand tonnes last year, with identified reserves standing at 139 thousand tonnes. Development of the Arnasay, Western Kizilkok, Southern Jongeldi, and Eastern Agron deposits is set to begin this year. With rising production expected, authorities emphasized the need to expand processing capacity and ensure stable supplies of sulfuric acid and technical sulfur for uranium extraction.

    The President instructed officials to ensure timely implementation of projects, boost output and enhance economic returns across both sectors.

  • Pljevlja Coal Mine Marks 73 Years with Record Results and Long-Term Concession

    Pljevlja Coal Mine Marks 73 Years with Record Results and Long-Term Concession

    The Pljevlja Coal Mine celebrated Miners’ Day and its 73rd anniversary with a ceremonial session attended by government officials, energy sector representatives, business associates, and the local community. Despite a challenging year, the company highlighted record results, ongoing modernization projects, and progress on critical infrastructure.

    CEO Nemanja Laković praised employees for ensuring the country’s energy stability and confirmed that nearly 70% of work on the demanding Ćehotina riverbed relocation project has been completed. “The planned overburden will be exceeded by ten percent if the pace continues, ensuring sufficient coal for the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant once it reconnects to the grid,” he said.

    The mine achieved positive financial results in the first half of 2025 without burdening its owner, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG). Laković stressed that the company remains committed to both the energy sector and local community, with investments continuing despite the focus on urgent projects.

    Minister of Energy and Mining Admir Šahmanović acknowledged the year’s difficulties but commended miners for their dedication, emphasizing that the future of Montenegrin mining must align with modern standards and the principles of a just transition. EPCG chairman Milutin Đukanović added that the mine is well-positioned to support Montenegro’s green transition, including the development of large solar power plants.

    The event concluded with the signing of concession contracts extending coal exploitation rights in Pljevlja until 2050, securing the long-term utilization of reserves and reinforcing the mine’s role in Montenegro’s energy and economic landscape.

  • Poland’s JSW Mined 1.01 Million Tons of Coal in August 2025

    Poland’s JSW Mined 1.01 Million Tons of Coal in August 2025

    Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) reported August 2025 coal production of 1.01 million tons, achieving 84% of its monthly target due to operational disruptions, including a fire at the Budryk mine, force majeure declarations, and challenging geological conditions. Despite this, the company’s cumulative January-August output reached 8.44 million tons, exceeding its annual plan by 0.5%.

    Coal sales in August totaled 1.18 million tons (95.3% of the target), with energy coal outperforming expectations at 135.4% of the monthly goal. Coking coal sales, however, dipped to 0.93 million tons against a 1.05-million-ton target. The coke segment proved resilient, with August production hitting 0.30 million tons (116.3% of the plan) and sales reaching 0.29 million tons (110.1%). Year-to-date coke output stands at 2.01 million tons, surpassing annual projections.

    JSW underscored its long-term stability after securing a license extension for the Borynia deposit until 2042, which holds 40 million tons of coking coal reserves. The company attributed its sustained performance to its Strategic Transformation Plan, ensuring operational resilience despite market volatility.

  • JSW Declares Force Majeure After Fire Disrupts Budryk Mine Operations

    JSW Declares Force Majeure After Fire Disrupts Budryk Mine Operations

    Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW), Poland’s leading producer of coking coal, has declared force majeure following a fire at its Budryk mine on May 7, 2025. The fire, attributed to endogenous ignition, forced a temporary suspension of operations in the affected mining area.

    JSW estimates that the disruption could result in a loss of approximately 345,000 tons of coal output in 2025. This incident compounds earlier challenges the company faced at its Szczygłowice mine in January, prompting JSW to revise its full-year production forecast downward from 14.5 million tons to about 12 million tons.

    In response to the mounting operational difficulties, trade unions are calling for swift strategic action, including the potential acquisition of additional mines and voluntary staff departure programs to help stabilize the company’s long-term outlook.

  • Uzbekistan Focuses on Supporting Construction Material Producers

    Uzbekistan Focuses on Supporting Construction Material Producers

    A meeting was held with construction material producers of Uzbekistan under the leadership of Deputy Prosecutor General S.I. Samadov and Minister of Mining Industry and Geology B.F. Islamov. The event brought together representatives of responsible departments to address existing challenges in the sector.

    Key issues discussed included operational problems faced by producers, particularly in cement manufacturing, and strategies for overcoming these obstacles. A major point of concern was the availability of coal required for production.

    Officials informed entrepreneurs that coal deposits are actively being developed in the Surkhandarya region, presenting an opportunity for local coal fuel to be supplied to manufacturers. This initiative aims to improve the reliability and quality of fuel for construction material production, reducing dependence on external sources.

    The meeting underscored the government’s commitment to supporting local industries and enhancing the efficiency of Uzbekistan’s construction material sector.

  • Kazakhstan Sees Significant Growth in Coal Production and Industry Revenue in January

    Kazakhstan Sees Significant Growth in Coal Production and Industry Revenue in January

    Kazakhstan’s mining sector experienced a notable surge in January, with mineral extraction reaching 10.08 million tons, marking a 12.9% increase compared to the same period last year. According to the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, coal production accounted for 9.7 million tons, reflecting a 14.7% year-on-year growth, while lignite extraction declined to 380,700 tons, an 18.8% dropfrom January 2023.

    The production of coal concentrate also showed positive trends, with 292,700 tons processed in the country’s enrichment plants during the first month of the year, a 4.7% increase compared to the previous year. In monetary terms, the industry’s output rose to 52.29 billion tenge, representing a 16.7% growth from 2023. This growth has significantly contributed to Kazakhstan’s industrial production index, which stood at 101.3% compared to January 2023.

    During a February meeting of the Ministry of Industry and Construction, industry stakeholders reviewed last year’s performance, outlined plans for 2025, and discussed preparations for the heating season. The domestic market currently requires 7.9 million tons of solid fuel, with 7.53 million tons already supplied. Additionally, coal reserves at storage facilities have increased to 476,000 tons.

    It is worth noting that industry players have previously expressed opposition to transitioning under the management of the Ministry of Energy.

  • Coal Production in Kazakhstan Drops by 7.8% in First Seven Months of 2024

    Coal Production in Kazakhstan Drops by 7.8% in First Seven Months of 2024

    Kazakhstan’s coal miners extracted nearly 59.6 million tons of coal from January to July 2024, marking a 7.8% decrease compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Bureau of National Statistics’ monthly report. The majority of this volume was bituminous coal, totaling 57.26 million tons, which saw an 8.6% year-on-year decline.

    The decline in lignite production was even more significant. Brown coal output fell by nearly half, with 1.37 million tonsextracted over seven months. Although July saw a slight production increase compared to June, with 80.4 thousand tonsof lignite produced, this figure remains 68.5% lower than in July 2023.

    Conversely, companies extracting bituminous coal experienced a significant boost in July, increasing production by 23%to 8.73 million tons.

    Additionally, coal enrichment plants in Kazakhstan reported increased activity since the beginning of the year. The country’s processing plants produced 2.33 million tons of coal concentrate, a 14.3% increase compared to the previous year. In July alone, production reached 651 thousand tons, up 3.2% year-on-year.

    On August 20, the Prime Minister’s website published details of a government meeting where the upcoming heating season was discussed. According to the Ministry of Energy, current stockpiles include 3.7 million tons of coal and 90 thousand tons of fuel oil. However, four power stations currently have energy resource reserves below the required level.

  • Coal Production Declines in Kazakhstan Due to Market and Logistics Issues

    Coal Production Declines in Kazakhstan Due to Market and Logistics Issues

    Throughout 2023-2024, coal production at Kazakhstan’s deposits has gradually decreased, reports the press service of the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Over the past year, coal production dropped by 1 million tons year-over-year, totaling 113 million tons. From January to April 2024, extraction decreased by 2.7 million tons compared to the first four months of 2023.

    According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Olzhas Saparbekov, the decline in production was influenced by the reduction in global fuel prices, the development of green energy, and logistics challenges.

    Mr. Saparbekov stated that increasing the share of solid fuel in energy generation can be achieved through the application of clean coal technologies, which are already actively practiced in some European and Asian countries. To implement such methods, the ministry plans to establish cooperation with foreign companies.

    Additionally, the growth of coal production could be supported by the development of the coal chemical industry. The Deputy Minister mentioned that Kazakhstan aims to learn from China’s experience in obtaining high-margin products from solid fuel. Currently, the country is creating conditions to attract Chinese investors and technologies to develop this sector.

    Saparbekov noted that the republic lost a significant portion of its coal exports due to logistical issues. These problems include convection bans related to neighboring countries and a shortage of railway wagons. In his opinion, to improve the situation, the Ministry of Transport, relevant authorities of neighboring countries, and railway operators need to establish a dialogue and resolve contentious issues regarding raw material delivery.