REUTERS
Budget funds were planned to be allocated for the modernization of coal mines.
Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk says the Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting on June 5 decided to allocate UAH 295 million (US$11 million) to pay off wage arrears to the country's miners.
"Now the money earmarked for modernization – [of mines in] Lysychansk and the Pivdennodonbaska 3rd coal mine – we are allocating for payment of wages [to miners]. We're once again stepping on the rakes that have always been out there. The allocation of the said UAH 295 million adopted at the Cabinet of Ministers is now being negotiated at the Finance Ministry. The funds will be sent to mining teams today or Monday," he said during a Q&A hour at the Verkhovna Rada on June 7.
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Budget funds were planned to be allocated for the modernization of coal mines, according to the minister.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the national budget for 2019 provides for UAH 2.3 billion ($85.9 million) for the modernization of state-owned mines.
Nasalyk believes that UAH 2 billion ($74.7 million) in investment is required to take state-run mines out of unprofitability.
Permanent wage arrears to miners are a consequence of the difficult financial situation at the state-owned mines.