REUTERS
The move is part of the government policy to support the domestic coal industry.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Anatoliy Korzun says the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated UAH 136 million (US$4.8 million) in wages for the country's miners.
"The day before yesterday, the government signed a resolution on the allocation of [UAH] 136 million [to pay off wage arrears for miners]. Now the last conciliation procedures are underway. I think in the near future, the arrears will be reduced significantly," the Ukrainian news outlet ZN.UA quoted Korzun as saying while addressing the Parliament October 5.
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The move is part of the government policy to support the domestic coal industry. It was earlier reported that the Cabinet of Ministers was drafting a decree to set a priority for the Ukrainian coal to be used at the country's thermal power plants (TPP). According to Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, this will have a positive impact on Ukraine's energy independence and domestic economy.
In January-August 2018, the shipments of imported thermal coal to TPPs and combined heat and power plants (CPPs) across Ukraine amounted to 3.740 million tonnes, which was 1.7 times up year-over-year (2.187 million tonnes). At the same time, 2.910 million tonnes of coal came to the Ukrainian power plants from Russia, accounting for 77.8%.