China is to step up its demand for imported coal, planning to expand it thirtyfold, and Russia would remain one of its priority providers, Zhao Jiakang (Society for Economical Studies in Coal Industry of China, secretary general) maintans.
Russian coal is attractive for China not only because of its quality and price, but also due to low logistics costs, Eugene Kolesov (Optim Consult, CEO) explains. New delivery channels (like much promising Kuragino—Kyzyl railroad under construction) would foster the expansion of co-operation. This January, Russian coal export increased by 2335 per cent in weight, 624 per cent in cost.