Reportage
In the Donbass, the Dolzhanskaya Capital mine, under the control of pro-Russian separatists, is running at full speed
Audio 01:17
Interior view of the Dolzhanskaya Capital mine.
© Anissa El Jabri / RFI
Text by: Anissa El Jabri Follow
3 mins
The mines and factories of Donbass were the industrial heart of the Soviet Union and then of Ukraine.
Some of them have been under the control of pro-Russian separatists for eight years.
At a time when Europeans are trying to do without Russian raw materials such as gas and oil, visit one of these mines during a press trip organized by the Russian army.
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From our special correspondent in Lugansk,
Under the shoes, on the hands, glue and hang for a long time a thick slippery and black earth: the earth of Donbass.
A land rich in black gold, quality coal, as explained by Roman Petrovich Belovol, chief engineer of the Dolzhanskaya Capital mine in the Lugansk region: "
There is real potential here for expansion.
We currently exploit four seams of coal, one of them since 1981, it is the main one, and it is the best in the whole region.
We have discovered it and we have been working on it since the Soviet years.
Now we start working on another layer.
It is of lower quality, but it is still a very good anthracite.
»
A message to Europeans
Between 1,000 and 1,500 tonnes of coal are mined every day, 40,000 tonnes of anthracite per month.
Since the end of February and the men mobilized in combat, the workers are less numerous, especially since here the wages are low: 500 euros on average against up to double in certain Russian mining basins.
The company assures it however, the mine continues to run at full speed.
For the moment, the coal from this mine mainly supplies the neighboring thermal power station, it could do much more, these leaders hope: supply not only Russia but also all the markets which remain open.
Message to Europeans before the arrival of winter.
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