REUTERS
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at today's meeting of the Anti-crisis energy staff plans to consider the introduction of a state of emergency in the Ukrainian energy sector due to the blocking of coal deliveries and a significant reduction in its reserves.
"The issue of the introduction of a state of emergency in the Ukrainian energy sector will be on the agenda of the energy staff meeting. We cannot allow the drop in the strategic coal reserves," Groysman told journalists Monday.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Groysman called for the lift of the blockade at the demarcation line, restoration of coal supplies, along with the establishment of strict control over the movement of goods along the line of contact.
After Russia ignited war in Donbas, Ukraine lost a large number of anthracite coal mines in the region. To solve the problem, Ukraine was buying fuel in the Republic of South Africa. As of today, anthracite in the militant-held territory is mined exclusively by DTEK owned by Rinat Akhmetov; however, coal supplies to the government-controlled territory are often interrupted.
Read alsoUkraine boosts coal consumption by almost 10% in 2016January 25, 2017 a group of ATO veterans blocked the Luhansk-Popasna railroad within the framework of a so-called trade blockade of the occupied areas of Donbas. Deputy Minister for the Occupied Territories and IDPs George Tuka said that the blockage could lead to the fact that the whole of Luhansk region would remain without electricity.
Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Ihor Nasalik said that the total blockade of coal supplies from the ATO zone would lead to rolling blackouts. He has emphasized that the responsibility for taking or not taking a decision on the blockade of anthracite coal supplies, on which Ukraine is short, should be taken by the Verkhovna Rada.