Russian ministry sees coal industry losses could totaling up to 300 bln-350 bln rubles in 2025

MOSCOW. July 2 (Interfax) - The consolidated loss of Russian coal companies could total 300 billion-350 billion rubles in 2025 if the situation on foreign markets, as well as with the ruble's exchange rate and interest rates, does not change, Energy Ministry deputy department director Dmitry Lopatin said at a meeting of the Federation Council's Siberia development council.

"The situation is deteriorating. Last year the loss totalled 112.6 billion rubles, and we already have a loss of about 112 billion rubles for the first five months [of 2025]," Lopatin said.

"And one of the main problems that the coal industry faces is the situation with indebtedness. Loans currently total 1.2 trillion rubles. We expect this figure to grow to 1.4 trillion rubles by the end of the year," he said.

He said the Energy Ministry is in constant contact with the Central Bank on this issue.

The Russian government approved a set of measures to support the coal industry at the end of May. Among other things, they call for the approval of financial recovery plans for companies in the sector and restrictions on dividend payments. Companies will be provided with targeted subsidies to offset a portion of logistics costs for coal exports over long distances.

All coal companies will get a deferral on the mineral extraction tax and social security contributions until December 1. Companies with large debt burdens will be given the opportunity to restructure their debt. Siberian coal companies will be compensated for 12.8% of the rate for export shipments of coal by rail on the northwestern and southern routes.

The government said it would use a targeted approach when distributing the support to coal companies.