Russian coal miner Belon Group said on Tuesday that it will be operating at full capacity in the first quarter thanks to agreements with domestic steel makers and an unnamed producer in southeast Asia.
"Agreements that we have reached allow the company to continue stable work in 2009, despite the unfavourable influence of external factors," the company said in a statement.
Russian coking coal producers have been hard hit by the financial crisis, with steel sector clients delaying payment because of mounting receivables.
Belon and its rivals including Raspadskaya and Mechel in November requested government assistance because of the volume of outstanding payments with Raspadskaya also claiming fourth quarter sales would reach only one-third of planned volumes after steel makers slashed orders.
However, Belon said a long-term contract with Novolipetsk Steel as well as agreements with Metalloinvest, Mechel and Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, which owns a 41.3 percent stake in the Siberian miner, have allowed it to maintain production levels.
Belon added that it has signed agreements to supply steam coal to a range of buyers including Glencore International, Cargill Inc and other clients in eastern Europe.
Source: Reuters
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