OREANDA-NEWS. OJSC "Kuzbasskaya Toplivnaya Company" (RTS/MICEX: "KBTK"), one of the largest producers and exporters of thermal coal in Russia, is pleased to announce operational results for 1 quarter 2013.

In Q1 2013, the Company produced 2.39 mln. tonnes of coal, which is in line with Q4 2012. Compared with Q1 2012, quarterly production increased by 10%.

The volume of coal sorting increased by 2% compared to Q4 2012 and amounted 1.41 mln. tonnes. Coal washing at the "Kaskad" washing plant increased by 80% compared to Q4 2012 and Q1 2012, amounted 0.36 mln. tonnes. As of the end of quarter, share of processed coal5 amounted 74%.

Stripping volume increased by 7% to 14.70 mln. cbm. The share of low-cost non-transportation stripping increased form 6% in the Q1 2012 to 9% in Q1 2013. Average stripping transportation distance during the last quarter decreased by 7% to 2.60 km. The volume of blasted rock mass amounted 6.37 mln. cbm. which is 9% higher then in the Q4 2012. Avereage stripping ratio increased by 5% Q-o-Q to 6.10 but decreased by 31% Y-o-Y. Stripping ratio will decrease Y-o-Y, according to the production plan.

In Q1 2013 in comparison to Q4 2012 the results decreased because of thermal coal consumption seasonality in Russia. The major part of thermal coal is used domestically for heating power producing, therefore its demand peaks in Q4 of every year and then starts to fall in Q1 when the heating season comes closer it its end.

Coal sales in Q1 2013 decreased by 19% to 2.38 mln. tonnes. Export sales decreased by 6% to 1.40 mln. tonnes because of decrease of shipments to Eastern Europe. Share of export in total sales rose from 51% to 59%. Coal sales in the domestic market decreased by 32% at the seasonal decline in demand and amounted 0.98 mln. tonnes. The volume of coal re-sale fell by 48% to 0.26 mln. tonnes.

In Q1 2013 the average price of coal decreased by 19% quarter-on-quarter to RUB 1,028 per tonne. Comparing with Q1 2012, average price fell by 24%. The average domestic decreased by 8% to RUB 1,211 per tonne. The average export price decreased by 27% to RUB 900 per tonne.

On May 23, 2013 the Company plans to release its unaudited interim Q1 2013 IFRS Statements. A conference-call to discuss the financial results and to ask the questions will be held the same day at 20:00 PM Kemerovo time (UTC +7:00), 17:00 PM Moscow time (UTC +4:00), 13:00 PM London time (UTC +1:00), 9:00 AM New York time (UTC -4:00).