Ukraine has a plan for raising energy efficiency, resource saving and their replacement, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.
"Gas is a very expensive energy resource, and we need to think about how to do things more economically. Definitely we will give priority to coal," he said in an interview with Ukrainian television that was recorded in his Mezhyhiria residence on Friday and aired on Tuesday.
Ukraine will export about 1 million tonnes of coal this year and its production will continue to rise, the president said.
When asked about the progress of talks with Russia regarding the gas price, Yanukovych said that Ukraine would defend its national interests in regard to gas just as it does with other foreign policy issues.
