Coal mining has been suspended in two underground mines and three open-pit mines in the Kuzbass region so far this year, Tass reported on December 19, citing the chairman of the regional government, Andrei Panov.

Specifically, UK Sibcoal has stopped mining since April and is currently seeking investment to restart it. The Zadubrovsky Novy and Yevtinsky Novy open-pit mines have stopped operations since October and are expected to resume in January 2025, Andrei Panov stated.

The Inskaya coal mine has stopped mining since June due to unpaid wages and faces criminal prosecution. The Olzherasskaya-Novaya mine of Mechel company has been suspended since October 8 due to insufficient profitability and is scheduled to resume in April 2025.

Kuzbass is Russia's largest coal-producing region, with more than 150 coal enterprises, accounting for more than 50% of the country's production and providing employment for about 97,000 people. Despite the challenges facing the industry, large companies have shown strong adaptability, with more than 3,000 high-paying job vacancies in each enterprise, according to Andrei Panov.