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International Area Studies Review

ISSN : 2233-8659 (Print)

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International Area Studies Review

ISSN : 2233-8659 (Print)

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International Area Studies Review - Vol. 27 , No. 1
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[ Article ]
International Area Studies Review - Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 57-74
Abbreviation: IASR
ISSN: 2233-8659 (Print)
Print publication date 31 Mar 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69473/iasr.2024.27.1.57

Russia’s policy in the coal sector in the context of Energy Transition
Nikita Lomagin ; Irina Mironova ; Maxim Titov ; Michael Oshchepkov
ENERPO Research Centre, European University at St. Petersburg; Professor at the Department of World Economy, St. Petersburg State University; Professor at the Faculty of International Relations and Political Studies, Northwest Institute of Management, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
ENERPO Research Centre

Correspondence to : Irina Mironova, Associate Research Fellow, ENERPO Research Centre, European University at St. Petersburg Email: imironova@eu.spb.ru

Abstract

In this article, the authors discuss Russia’s approach to coal in the context of the climate agenda and explain the reasons why Russia will not abandon coal mining in the next 20-30 years. These reasons include the demand in international markets (international market fundamentals), desire for profit from companies, regional leaders, and governments (economic factor); the need to ensure energy security in certain regions in the East (political-economic factor); the presence of single-industry towns that currently rely solely on coal exports (domestic political factors); and the prospect of coal remaining highly competitive and the potential for cost reduction in the future (Sakhalin, Yakutia). Additionally, Russia is not being offered assistance by any external players in a “just” transition to an energy sector without coal mining.

Keywords: Russia, coal, energy transition, decarbonization, coal phase-out, just transition, energy policy, energy strategy
Notes
1. STEPS, or Stated Policies Scenario.
2. Authors’ calculations based on data from (Petrenko, 2023) and the Central Bank of Russia.
AI Acknowledgment

Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were not used in any way to prepare, write, or complete essential authoring tasks in this manuscript.

Conflict of Interests

The author(s) declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

The author(s) declare that there is no funding.

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