The company managing the Raspadskaya coal mine in Russia's west Siberia which was recently hit by deadly explosions has reduced coal shipping to consumers by 70%, the company CEO said.
General director Gennady Kozovoi told journalists Sunday that there is no more coal at company depots.
Two methane explosions hit the Raspadskaya mine near the town of Mezhdurechensk in the Kemerovo Region a week ago, killing at least 66 people and leaving over 100 injured.
Twenty-four people are still missing underground but high levels of methane gas in the mine have forced the suspension of rescue work for at least a week.
Analysts polled by RIA Novosti earlier said the Russian market could face a lack of coal due to the Raspadskaya accident. The Raspadskaya mine ensures some 10% of coal supplies in Russia.
Earlier reports suggested that it would take a year to restore the coal mine and that the work would cost some 6 billion rubles ($200 mln).
Kemerovo Region Governor Aman Tuleyev on Saturday blamed the fatal accident at Raspadskaya on the owners of the mine. Raspadskaya owners have become the targets of fierce criticism over the accident, and federal investigators denied on Saturday reports that the company's top executives were under house arrest.
Miners and their families protested in Mezhdurechensk on Friday, claiming that they were forced to disable safety equipment in order to meet production targets, accusations that have been rejected by mine management.
MEZHDURECHENSK (Kemerovo Region), May 17 (RIA Novosti)
