The discussion focuses on developing Russian fuel and power reserves considering gradual transition of electric power stations to coal fuel, as power industry has a major impact onto the coal market. The meeting participants will cover issues of pensions for miners, privatization of the remaining state-owned mines, and extending a time span for debt restructuring.

The issue of old debts is of the most importance to coal-miners. It was touched upon at the meeting of the President and Alexey Mordashov, head of the Severstal-group, in July 2002.

Alexey Mordashov believes that investors and new owners should accept previously made obligations of coal mining companies, however, debts should restructured at fair terms.

About the meeting
     The meeting is held at the Raspadskaya coal-mine in the Mezdurechensk village, and is chaired by Vladimir Putin. It's the second remote location meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation in its life time. The first remote location meeting was held in September of last year in Orenburg and covered development of agriculture and grain market.
     Aman Tuleev, the head of the work group on the state policy in coal-mining, who is also the governor of Kemerovo region, will present a draft report on measures of state regulation in the coal-mining industry. They work group been working at this report since Spring.