Russia has registered significant new coal deposits across its key mining regions over the past year, reinforcing the strategic role of Siberia and the Far East in the country's energy sector. According to data released by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on August 30, geologists added five new coal deposits and sites to the state register in 2025.

The most substantial addition is the Siberian East Coal Field in the Kemerovo region, which holds 280 million tonnes of registered coal reserves. Kuzbass, as the region is widely known, also contributed the Naryksky Yuzhny site with 57.4 million tonnes. In Yakutia, the Kharbalakh No. 2 site added 30.4 million tonnes, while Transbaikalia's Malyutki-2 contributed a more modest 2.3 million tonnes.

Krasnoyarsk Krai, home to Russia's largest coal deposit, the Abanskoye field with reserves estimated at 30.6 billion tonnes, saw the addition of 62.8 million tonnes at the Lemberovsky 1 section of the Nizhnelemberovskoye deposit.

The ministry clarified that no major new deposits have been added to the state register so far in 2026. The figures were released to mark Miner's Day, a professional holiday celebrated this year on August 30.

President Vladimir Putin emphasized in his message to the nation's miners that Russia continues to hold a leading position in global coal markets despite challenging industry conditions. Russia ranks second in the world in coal reserves, third in exports, and sixth in production.

He noted that coal, coke, iron ore and other minerals remain among the foundations of the national economy, adding that domestic demand for both coking and thermal coal is fully met.

The coal sector has been under pressure from logistical constraints and shifting export dynamics. Earlier this year, Putin urged Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozerov to maintain focus on coal transportation. Belozerov later reported growth in non-coal exports, including grain, fertilizers and containerized cargo, while stressing that Russian Railways is strictly fulfilling its instructions regarding the agreement to export coal from Kemerovo.