Ukraine is obviously short of coal, said country's newly appointed Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn during the Dec. 5 news conference in Kyiv. There are only 1.4 million tons of coal left at the local power plants, while they need 3.2 million tons per month.
Amount of anthracite, a high quality coal, doesn’t exceed 0.25 million tons, the rest is a so called “gas” coal of a lower quality. Coal-based power plants produce as much as 42 percent of the annual electricity output.
“Ukraine is currently in an urgent need of anthracite,” said Demchyshyn. “Due to the lack of supplies, Prydniprovska, Kryvorizka and Zmiivska power plants are working at a minimum capacity … and are unable to provide the level of output required by the system.”
Meanwhile, 2 million tons of anthracite remain out of Ukrainian system’s reach as they are stored in war-torn Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. Logistics ties with both regions are complicated due to the aggression of Russia-backed separatists.
Moreover, as many as 500 carriages of prepaid coal from the Russian Federation are now stuck at the border for unknown reasons, according to Demchyshyn. Energy Ministry is trying to resolve the issue through “contacting the right people at the highest level,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Vitaliy Yarema said on Dec. 5 that the coal imported from South Africa is of very low quality and doesn’t even burn at the local power plants.
“Yesterday we chose a precautionary measure for Volodymyr Zinevych, director of Ukuinterenergo (a state-run energy trader that purchased South African coal) – bringing him to court. Today he’s in the hospital,” Yarema said.
Centrenergo
Demchyshyn of Energy Ministry also said that the government will replace the management of Centrenergo, a state-owned electricity maker that’s been in an epicenter of a scandal due to bribery charges.
“Centrenergo is not functioning properly, management is not ready to make (right) decisions,” minister explained. “So in the nearest time I will appoint new people who will be more efficient in accomplishing their tasks.”
Centrenergo is part of the government’s privatization plan.
Gas
Demchyshyn said Ukraine is planning to buy 1 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia’s Gazprom by the year’s end, which is why it is conducting a prepayment of $378 million on Dec. 5.
He called on consumers to use less gas by any means. “We are talking to those who exceed their limits and hope to get the results soon,” he added.
Ministry plans new energy cuts, while country has already reduced the gas consumption by 20 percent, according to Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Gordiienko can be reached at [email protected].
