The Kremlin press office reported that Putin made these remarks in his congratulatory message on Miners’ Day, celebrated this August 30 in the Russian Federation.

The president noted, “Coal, coke, iron ore, and other minerals, with which nature has so generously gifted Russia with, remain one of the pillars of the national economy nowadays. Our country has the world’s second-largest coal reserves, third in exports, and sixth in production.”

The head of State pointed out that companies in the sector kept their production at 440 million tons last year. They also continued to increase labor productivity, which has risen by 18 percent over the last five years.

Putin stressed on the need of giving priority to training of the personnel in the coal sector and enhance the prestige of the mining and industrial workers’ professions.

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