During his visit, Mr Putin went to the observation deck, inspected a test bench describing the mine, and made a tour of the mine's administration and amenity facility.

Alexander Shchukin, the chairman of the board of directors of Sibuglemet, the mine's proprietor, told the Prime Minister that the mine was still in its early stages of operation. It employs a staff of 1,420 workers, whose average wages are 40,000 roubles. According to Mr Shchukin, the mine is not planning to cut pay or lay off workers.

"Our coal is of good quality, and we export it, about 65% of it," he said.

Asked by Mr Putin whether or not production volumes had fallen, the board chairman replied that while previously the mine turned out something in the region of 270,000 tonnes of coal a month, now this amount would be 250,000 tonnes or so.

"A slight decrease," remarked the Prime Minister.