You're reading: DTEK ready to buy all coal concentrate from Lviv Coal Company

The largest private vertically integrated energy holding of Ukraine – DTEK – is ready to buy all coal concentrate of the proper quality from Lviv Coal Company (Sokal District of Lviv region), the holding's press service has reported, referring to its CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov.

 “DTEK is ready to buy all coal of the proper quality Lviv Coal Company can offer and supply it to power plants of DTEK Zakhidenergo,” the press service said, citing Ryzhenkov.

He said that in 2012, DTEK bought 680,400 tonnes of coal concentrate made from coal extracted by Volynvuhillia, Lvivvuhilla and Nadia Mine from Lviv Coal Company. Coal was bought for UAH 569.1 million.

“In 2013, we can buy over 800,000 tonnes of coal from Lviv mines if they are able to supply the said volume of coal of the proper quality. In January we’re ready to buy around 72,000 tonnes of coal – all the coal Lviv companies can supply us. This volume will not be enough,” he said.

Ryzhenkov said that around additional 2.2 million tonnes of coal is to be burned at DTEK Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant to ensure electricity exports, along with an additional 600,000 tonnes of coal at DTEK Dobrotvirska Thermal Power Plant. Lviv and Volyn enterprises are most convenient suppliers of coal for the said thermal power plants.

Chervonohrad central concentrating mill operated by Lviv Coal Company, which processes coal extracted at mines located in western Ukraine, is in a poor technical state and operates unstably.

Ryzhenkov added that environment protection requirements also contain restrictions for using coal from the Lviv-Volyn basin.

As reported, some two dozen representatives of the independent trade union of the Lviv Coal Company were picketing the Ukrainian president’s administration in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The coalminers are protesting against the closure of mines and demanding controls over the payment of wages.

The only consumer of coal in western regions of Ukraine is the Lviv-based DTEK Zakhidenergo electricity generating company, which prefers buying coal from coalmines in the east of the country.

The State Property Fund several times tried to sell a 37.58% stake in Lviv Coal Company.

Iforas and Cargo- Transport Department hold stakes of 23% and 22.7% respectively in the company.