Aug 27. At a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov on August 7 Russian coal companies were instructed to make priority deliveries inside the country this year, in order that power-stations are provided with fuel, given the scarcity of transportation equipment, reported sources in the industry. Within these guidelines, from September, coal companies plan to cut rail shipments from raw-material rich Kuzbass, since the country lacks the wagons to ensure both domestic transportation and export. Russian power-stations have been very low on stocks of fuel coal and water reserves over the past decade. Russian Railways has already reduced the number of cars for export from Kuzbass by half. Earlier this year, coal exporters were accused of renting or purchasing wagons for use. The order came against the backdrop of coking coal companies' recent problems with the authorities.