Russia in need of coal-fired power plants

MOSCOW, May 10 (Commodity Online): The large amount of coal deposits at inaccessible areas of Russia seems to have put the country in a tricky situation, even creating fuel shortages in such an energy rich country. Russia has been forced to reduce exports of oil and gas due to these fuel shortages. Russia slapped a 44 per cent import duty on gasoline to prohibit sales abroad as on first of May 2011. Russia is the largest producer of natural gas and holds the fifth place for coal in terms of the production capacity the country holds. EIA suggests more use of coal in the domestic market so as to benefit from the current market conditions of natural gas in international markets. EIA also mentioned that Russia will succeed in turning power generation much more environmental friendly if the country manages to bring more efficiency into coal powered power plants.