 Russian steel and coal producer Mechel confirmed on Thursday it was in talks to sell its flagship Elga coal project, one of the worlds biggest coking coal deposits, ahead of the imminent expiry of a debt claim relief deal. Mechel has been negotiating the sale of the Elga coal project, its biggest growth asset, which requires significant further investments to develop, as part of the latest round of protracted debt restructuring talks with its creditors. In January 2020 the group began negotiations with potential buyers over the sale of the Elga coal complex, which will allow it to reduce its debt burden, the company, controlled by businessman Igor Zyuzin, said in a statement, adding it had not yet reached a deal. 