New Delhi, Aug. 29 -- Russia's natural resource base grew to 273.2 billion tonnes of coal in 2026, rising by 825.6 million tonnes from the year before and cementing the country's position as the world's fifth-largest holder of the fuel, the Natural Resources Ministry told RIA Novosti. Only China, the United States, India, and Australia hold more.

a resource base that keeps growing even as the industry bleeds cash and loses export customers. Mining companies recorded combined losses of 408 billion rubles in 2025, with projections for 2026 running between 500 and 575 billion rubles. Two-thirds of operations are unprofitable. More than two dozen firms have shut since last year.

Production in the first seven months of the year fell to 249 m...