UPDATE 2-Russia region says could take ArcelorMittal mines

* Kemerovo governor says won't allow mines to close

* ArcelorMittal in talks over future of one mine

* Kazakh miners protest underground

(Adds more company comment, Kazakhstan protest)

By Alfred Kueppers and Natalya Shurmina

MOSCOW/YEKATERINBURG, July 10 (Reuters) - Russia's Kemerovo region has told ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker, to boost production at two local coalmines or give them up.

"If your team is not able to stabilise production at these facilities, then we propose that you hand them over without compensation," Kemerovo governor Aman Tuleyev said in a telegram addressed to the multinational's chief executive, Lakshmi Mittal, and cited in a statement on the Kemerovo website.

ArcelorMittal (MT.N) (ISPA.AS) acquired three Siberian coal mines from Russia's Severstal (CHMF.MM) in 2008, becoming one of the few foreign companies to enter the market. [ID:nLJ417076]

The company said in comments emailed to Reuters it was in talks with local officials over the possible sale of the Anzherskaya mine, which is predominantly a producer of steam coal, not the coking coal used in steel production.