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Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has called unacceptable any speculation around the issue of coal supplies to Ukraine, including during an ongoing blockade of coal deliveries from the ATO zone.
"I am categorically against any manifestations of smuggling. I agree that it is necessary to stop any movement of contraband goods across the demarcation line. But when it comes to the people's need to get heat and electricity... We have prepared well for the heating season. And now, does anyone want to disrupt the heating season, which will lead to blackouts? It is necessary to distinguish between the fight against smuggling and the fight against the people," Groysman said at a government meeting, reporting on the results of the Cabinet of Minister work in 2016.
Read alsoState of emergency in Ukraine's energy sector looming: Coal enough for 40 days"We can use the critical import, which we get from the Ukrainian subsoil," Groysman said. "It is necessary to ensure nonstop operations of the real sector."
Groysman gave an example of how two weeks ago, all the rescue services and armed forces rallied to avoid the halt of Avdiyivka coking plant. "It could be halted by Russian shelling, but now it can, because of the blockade," he said.
Read alsoCabinet may introduce state of emergency in energy sector due to blockade in DonbasAs UNIAN reported earlier, 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.
January 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.