Igor Sechin chaired a meeting in Neryungri, Yakutiya, to discuss the future of the coal industry. Officials at the meeting decided that the government of the Russian Federation, specifically the Ministry of Energy, would be responsible for preparing, by the end of 2010, an official strategy for the industry's development. Specialised agencies were also tasked with addressing mine safety issues and improving regulations governing mine design and operation, as well coal logistics and taxation.

Officials also discussed the introduction of process safety oversight in mines. According to the deputy prime minister, such oversight has already been put in place at several Russian mines, and it is now necessary to refine the system and implement it throughout the industry.

Among the issues discussed there were also miners' wages and social insurance. Igor Sechin noted that the government is working to meet the obligations announced by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during his visit to Novokuznetsk.