A Study of Factors Influencing the Development Prospects of the Coal Industry in the Eastern Regions of Russia

Abstract

The study provides an overview of the coal-producing regions in Russia. A set of factors influencing the development of coal mining in the regions is determined. An analysis of the interdependence of factors is carried out. The extent to which various factors affect the development of the coal industry in the eastern regions of Russia is assessed. Most of the factors are capable of influencing the development of the coal industry only in the long run due to the inertia inherent in the industry development. The findings indicate that the development prospects for the coal industry in the regions are largely determined by the development of coal energy facilities and the demand for coal in the international market. Russia's regions differ significantly in terms of their coal industry development, coal resources, coal category with respect to its carbon content rank, mining and geological conditions, the geographical location, and other characteristics. There are also significant differences between the sets of main factors that influence the opportunities for coal production development in a region. The study shows that forecasting the development of the coal industry in the regions calls for a case-by-case approach, including the development of an individual model for each coal-producing region.