KEMEROVO, Russia -- Russia's first plant to produce synthetic fuel will be built in the central Kemerovo Oblast, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
Kemerovo Governor Aman Tuleyev told journalists that the new industrial facility will produce the fuel through the gasification of coal.
The factory will be constructed next to the Serafimov coal mine, which reportedly has more than 160 million tons of coal.
Aleksandr Starikov, the director of NPO Kuzbass Company that is the major investor in the project, said at press conference in Kemerovo on March 10 that the new factory's operations are expected to begin in five years.
He added that a total of $800 million will be invested in the project.
Starikov said the liquefied coal fuel can be used in aviation and space programs, among other uses.