Raspadskaya coal production suspended after mine fire

Raspadskaya coal production has been suspended following a mine fire, raising fresh uncertainty over premium coking coal supply from one of Russia’s key producers.

Raspadskaya PJSC has suspended operations at Russia’s largest coking coal mine, following a fire in a dismantling chamber. The incident occurred overnight on September 30, 2026; all 305 miners were evacuated to the surface and no injuries were reported. The fire was extinguished by the company’s own crews; currently military mine rescue units are monitoring the mine’s gas atmosphere.

The duration of the suspension has not been disclosed. This marks the second shutdown of Raspadskaya PJSC’s production facilities this year: in May, the Alardinskaya mine was idled for 11 days due to excessive carbon dioxide levels. Separately, on September 17, a court ordered a 90-day halt to preparatory work at a specific section of the Raspadskaya mine over a ventilation regime violation.

The suspension comes amid a continued decline in the company’s coal output. Raspadskaya PJSC’s production dropped to 8.6 mio t in January–August 2026 (-1.7 mio t or -16.5% y-o-y).

The impact of the incident on the coking coal market will depend on how long Raspadskaya remains idled. The mine is one of the key suppliers of premium-grade coking coal to both the domestic market and export destinations, primarily to Asia. A reduction in supply from this asset could amplify price volatility in the coking coal market, which is already facing a shortage of high-quality material.

Source: CCA