Ukraine plans to resume anthracite coal purchases from foreign countries in the near future, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn said at a press conference in Kyiv.
“We are negotiating on coal purchase abroad. Orders have been made. Ukrinterenergo is involved in the work,” he said.
Demchyshyn added that Ukrainian ports are able to handle about 400,000 tonnes of anthracite coal per month, which is enough to accumulate the necessary reserves for winter.
According to the minister, the country needs to accumulate 2.5 million tonnes of coal by the beginning of the heating season in mid-October, including 1.5 million tonnes of G grade coal and 1 million tonnes of A grade coal.
“This month about 270,000 tonnes have been delivered to the warehouses, including more than 100,000 tonnes of A grade… It is necessary to bring another 700,000-800,000 tonnes of anthracite by winter,” Demchyshyn said.
According to the minister, coal is supplied from state mines located in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, however, because of problems with logistics and other risks related to such deliveries, Ukraine will have to resort to imports from abroad.
Demchyshyn noted that Hr 3 billion would be allocated in June for coal purchases.
