Ukraine's Cabinet allocates another US$6.64 mln for payment of coal miners' wages

Ukraine's Energy and Environmental Protection Ministry says the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated another UAH 163 million, or US$6.64 million, for payment of coal miners' wages.

Read alsoEnergy ministry says to close down loss-making state-owned coal mines

In particular, the funds will be allocated to such enterprises as M.S. Surhai Coal Mine, Pivdennodonbaska Coal Mine No.1, Myrnohradvuhillia, Selydivvuhillia, Toretskvuhillia, Pervomaiskvuhillia, Lysychanskvuhillia, Lvivvuhillia, and Volynvuhillia, the ministry's press service said on February 10.

Ukraine's national budget for 2020 provides for UAH 1.96 billion, or US$79.9 million, for paying current and delayed wages, it said.

As UNIAN reported, Ukraine's State Treasury Service on February 5 allocated UAH 163 million (US$6.64 million) for wages to miners.

As of January 1, 2020, wage arrears to miners totaled UAH 922 million (US$37.6 million).

In October 2019, the Energy and Environmental Protection Ministry announced it would be looking for mechanisms to bring the country's coal industry out of the unprofitable state in which it had been operating for more than a decade.

The ministry also launched audits at all state-run mines.