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Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has decided to dismiss Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk, while consultations on a possible successor are underway, according to a source close to the premier, Gazeta.ua reported.
The most likely successor could be Oleksandr Dombrovsky, head of the Verkhovna Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Gazeta.ua wrote.
In the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of 2014, he was reelected as Ukrainian MP nominated by the Bloc Petro Poroshenko by 51% of votes from electoral district No.11, Gazeta.ua wrote.
The Cabinet is also considering candidates from among former energy ministers -Ivan Plachkov and Volodymyr Demchyshyn, the source said. "In anticipation of the expected summer peak loads in Ukraine's power grid and given the coal shortage, Nasalyk's successor should be a competent official with knowledge of the actual situation in the Ukrainian energy sector," the Cabinet stressed.
Read alsoUkraine to completely abandon anthracite in two years – NasalykIn addition, it does not exclude the possibility that Nasalyk will remain in office, provided that all other candidates refuse to step on the helm of the industry sector in such a difficult time. Groysman's key claim to Nasalyk is the lack of specific actions by the ministry to reform the industry, according to the newspaper. Since the beginning of 2017, the Energy Ministry has lost control over the situation, beginning with the blockade of coal supplies from occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and ending with the boycott of activities of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, according to the source.
The Cabinet allegedly believes the replacement should balance the situation and give a new impetus to the energy sector reform.