UNIAN
Ukraine plans to suspend its imports of coal and electricity until the end of the year, Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Oleksandr Svetelik said on Friday.
"There are resources, but if we fail to take coal from the uncontrolled territories, or mines for some reason suspend operations, imports are not ruled out," Svetelik said, adding that recently the National Commission for state regulation of energy and public utilities submitted for approval by Ukrainian government a forecast balance of energy consumption in Ukraine in 2015.
"Electricity imports are not foreseen in the balance" according to Svetelik.
"We expect our resources will be enough," he added.
According to Svetelik, in 2015, the thermal power plants of Ukraine are expected to consume 28 million tonnes of coal, minimum volumes of which will be rarer coal types.
As earlier reported, due to Russia's military aggression in the Donbass, Ukraine was forced into importing coal and electric energy from abroad - South Africa and Australia. Prospects for raising Ukraine’s own production faded away after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and suspension of multibillion contracts with western energy giants, which are now reluctant, due to the unstable situation, to invest in the exploration of Ukraine’s oil- and gas-fields.