Nine mines in Donbas have been stopped due to floods due to restrictions in supply of electricity, First Deputy Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Ziukov has said.
“Nine mines unfortunately have been stopped due to floods: Melnykov Mine, Luhanske colliery group of State Enterprise Luhanskvuhillia, Oktiabrsky Rudnik colliery group of State Enterprise DUEK and some other mines. These are consequences of power blackouts: power lines, transformer substation are destroyed and there is no possibility of pumping out the water,” he said in an interview with the Holos Ukrainy newspaper published on Aug. 20.
He said that at present, around 30-35 mines are not operating in the region.
“The bandits fire at houses of peaceful residents and mines on purpose, buses with miners come under fire. It’s dangerous to come to work and work in the said conditions, and coal extraction was suspended in places where armed hostilities are seen,” he said.
Some mines stopped operating due to the theft of explosives by illegal armed groups. The two plants that produce explosives are under control of illegal armed groups now.
“There are mines that do not operate due to the absence of explosives. Two plants produce explosives in Ukraine – in Donetsk and Krasny Luch. The two plants have been seized by terrorists. Mines that use the drill and blast system for underground mining process – there are no explosives and there is no place to get them,” Ziukov said.
He said that the state only in July fall short to get Hr 297 million. From May the mines did not extract the planned 420,000 tonnes of coal, including 315,000 tonnes in July.
Ziukov said that the state is trying to pay wages to miners on time, although at present, the regional departments of the State Treasury Service in Donetsk and Luhansk regions are not operating.
