Experts believe Russian electricity consumers will have to bear the burden of unprecedented coal price soaring, which, in its turn, was brought about by Russian Railway Public Company’s increased charges and the greater transportation expenses. What is more, coal producers and coal traders will have to pay much greater fines for any extra load/unload time.

In case the unloading is delayed for twenty-four hours, the fine might come to as much as 2,500 RUR per car. A 4,500-ruble fine is imposed on each car that has been returned without getting cleaned. The freight insurance might cost as much as 1% of the cargo’s cost, which may amount to anything between 300 and 600 RUR per car.

The customs clearance expenses are on the increase as well. Last year, it cost about 50 RUR per car, while this year, the figure has already doubled.

To make matters worse, the ongoing liquidity crisis has been affecting the coal dealers’ expenses, too. Traders are forced to freeze the plentiful resources meant for transportation and customs charges when working with natural monopolies and customs. At the moment, one needs 700 RUR to 1,500 RUR per car of coal to keep the floating capital going.