Kiev: Situation with coal reserves in Ukraine disastrous, only Donbass can help

The situation with coal reserves at Ukrainian energy companies is disastrous: Ukraine fires 100,000 tons of coal every day, and the warehouses have only about 840,000 of gas coal and about 400,000 tons of anthracite coal left, Ukrainian Energy Minister Ihor Nasalyk has announced at a news conference.

The minister says that private companies are searching for solutions in importing coal from abroad. In particular, he notes, on August 20-21 a ship with 130,000 tons of anthracite coal is expected to arrive in Ukraine. He adds that the government is working on how to increase effectiveness of Ukrainian ports. He does not specify on what conditions Ukraine will receive coal by sea from other countries.

Nasalyk admits Ukraine cannot do now without anthracite coal from Donbass uncontrolled by Kiev. Annually, Ukrainian energy system consumes 9.2 mn tons of anthracite coal; meanwhile, in the territory controlled by Kiev it is not mined.

In late July, Kiev announced that they started receiving coal from Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. At the same time, despite the fact that railway workers of Donbass do fulfil instructions from both Kiev and Donetsk, they have not been receiving their wages since February. In February, Kiev decided not to buy coal from South Africa. Today, workers of Krasnoarmeyskugol and Selidovugol went on a hunger strike as they are not paid their salaries either.