Mechel, one of the leading Russian mining and steel groups, has reported that it has mined its one millionth metric ton of coal since operations began at its Elginsky open pit in Yakutia, Russia.
Currently, work still continues on transferring Elga's seasonal washing plant to all-year operation mode. The works are scheduled to be completed in October-November, which will enable the plant to reach a 2.7 million metric ton annual capacity.
As of the current month, Elga Coal Complex has reached a monthly mining capacity of 200,000 mt of run-of-mine coal. By the end of the year, the company plans to mine 1.35 million mt of coal, demand for which is already assured by contracts with several Russian steelmakers and leading Asia Pacific coal consumers which will be buying over half of the deposit's output in the future.