Meeting of State Council Commission on Energy

The meeting was held in a mixed
format, combining an in-person meeting as part of Energy Day at the International
RUSSIA forum and exhibition in Moscow, and a videoconference.
The discussion focused on the development
of the coal industry in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.
The meeting was attended by Deputy
Prime Minister Alexander Novak Novak AlexanderDeputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation , Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis
Pushilin Pushilin DenisHead of the Donetsk People’s Republic , Head of the Lugansk People’s Republic Leonid Pasechnik Pasechnik LeonidHead of the Lugansk People’s Republic , Deputy Energy
Minister Sergei Mochalnikov, Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological, and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) Vadim
Sergeyev, as well as representatives of relevant federal and regional executive
authorities, coal mining companies, and the expert community.
In his opening remarks, Alexander
Novak emphasised the paramount importance of the coal mining industry for Donbass,
noting that its development is the focus area of the Russian Government.
Sergei Tsivilev Tsivilev SergeiMinister of Energy of the Russian Federation noted that Kuzbass
and Donbass are bonded by the coal industry’s centuries-long history, and offered
to provide assistance to Donbass, such as scientific support and introducing advanced
technologies for coal mining and processing, drawing on the experience of the Kuzbass Research and Educational Centre.
Igor Levitin Levitin IgorAdviser to the President, Special Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in Transport drew attention to the significance of state support for the coal mining industry in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, as well as Donbass’ close cooperation with coal mining
regions of Russia and efforts to share the best regional practices.
Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik gave
an update on the progress of coal industry reforms in the regions, adding that
the advancement of Donbass coal enterprises requires investments, equipment modernisation,
and sales markets expansion.
Particular attention was given to discussing
improvements to laws and regulations as part of the ongoing integration into the Russian legal system, and efforts to ensure industrial and environmental
safety.
Representatives of Donbass enterprises
reported on current coal mining activities and made proposals for specific support
measures.
Sergei Mochalnikov provided an update on the efforts of Russia’s Energy Ministry to develop the coal industry,
including measures to restructure operating mines and ensure hydrogeological
and environmental safety in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.
Vadim Sergeyev reported on Rostekhnadzor’s efforts to ensure compliance with industrial safety
requirements at coal industry enterprises in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s
republics.
The participants drafted proposals to be submitted
for consideration by the Russian Government.