Ukraine to cut anthracite consumption by 20% in 2018

Ukrainian heat generation industry will in 2018 decrease consumption of deficient anthracite coal to 4.8-4.9 million tonnes, which is 20% lower than in 2017.

"We are seeing a dynamic reduction of anthracite consumption. In 2016, all thermal generation (TPPs and CHPPs) consumed 10.5 million tonnes, in 2017 it was 6 million tonnes, and in 2018 we envisage 4.8-4.9 million tonnes, according to the forecast balance sheet," head of the electric power industry department of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry Olha Buslavets told the meeting of the ministry's public council on Tuesday.

The official added that the Ministry of Energy was aware of the pressing need to reduce consumption of anthracite, which is now being imported.

Read alsoCoal stocks at Ukrainian TPPs shrink by 6.5% within week"Consumption of gasgrade coal has been increasing annually. In 2016, it was 16.5 million tonnes, in 2017 it was 18.7 million tonnes, and in 2018, we foresee 21 million tonnes," Buslavets said.

UNIAN memo. Hostilities in the eastern regions of Ukraine have caused a significant shortage of coal, primarily that of thermal anthracite group produced in militant-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Energy companies began to transfer the thermal power plants' units from anthracite to gas coal feeding. However, there has been a shortage of the latter since the output of gas coal did not keep pace with its consumption growth. To solve the problem, the companies signed contracts for coal imports from South Africa and the United States.