Photo from UNIAN
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced that the share of nuclear power in the country's general energy balance has increased to 60% from 47% amid a blockade of anthracite coal supplies from occupied Donbas.
"I am pleased to inform that we have boosted the share of nuclear energy in the overall energy balance. Off from 47%, we are rapidly approaching 60%. These are millions of tonnes of coal Ukraine no longer needs," he said at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on Thursday, February 16.
He also praised projects for upgrading power generating facilities for the use of gas coal instead of anthracite.
Read alsoEnergoatom sees rise in revenue from electricity sales"It goes about a significant increase in the coefficient of efficiency and operation with any types of fuel. This work must begin immediately, as it may take from two to three years," he said.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers on February 15 imposed a state of emergency in the electricity market in the country aimed to reduce consumption of anthracite whose supplies were halted due to a blockade by Ukrainian activists of trade with occupied areas in Donbas.
Despite the fact that anthracite was produced by Ukrainian-registered companies that are Ukrainian taxpayers, they had to suspend shipments to Ukrainian thermal power plants and metallurgical enterprises from February 10. This may affect heat and power generation, and cause the failure of contractual liabilities and a decline in revenue in metallurgy.
Both the European Union and the United States have condemned the blockade.