MMK, the Russian steel producer has announced that its coal mining subsidiary Belon increased its coal output by 32 percent or 996,000 tonnes year on year to 4.1 million tonnes in the first half of the current year, including 2.3 million tonnes of coking coal - up from 1.8 million tonnes produced in the same period last year. 

In 2010, Belon plans to produce 8.2 million tonnes of coal, including 5.1 million tonnes of coking coal.

In 2009, Belon invested Ruble 271.7 million (about $9 million) in labor safety and safety measures. Meanwhile, in H1 2010 Belon spent Ruble 214.7 million (about $7 million) for these purposes, 140 percent more than in H1 2009.