The project will generate novel insight into the opportunities and challenges for the coal sector in Russia given the ongoing low-carbon energy transition occurring globally and domestic progress following ratification of the Paris Agreement.

Research questions:

• Is the coal industry in Russia economically sustainable with regard to trends in costs, trade flows and national policy, and how will interplay with other fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable energy influence this?
• Given unavoidable low-carbon transitions, what are the risks for coal producing regions in Russia, including regional stakeholders in industry and the general public, and what type of support system would be most effective in supporting local populations (e.g. public social guarantees vs. corporate social responsibility programs)?
• What is the role of coal in Russia’s GHG emissions and what can be learnt from other sectors and emission reduction policies to inform measures for emissions linked to coal?
• What is the role of coal in future low-carbon scenarios for Russia, and what recommended steps should be taken by decision-makers in charge the coal industry in Russia?

Work packages:

1. Past and present role of coal in the Russian economy: national policy assessment, projections, trade flows, demand for Russian coal and investment initiatives (EUSP)
2. Analysis of coal interplay with other fossil fuels (natural gas, oil), nuclear energy and renewable energy in Russia (EUSP)
3. Economic and social contexts of coal-producing regions, using three regional case studies (EUSP)
4. The Russian coal sector in the context of climate policy (FNI)
5. Transition risks for the coal sector: regional case study (HSE)

Project period: 2020-2021