REUTERS
Ukraine's largest energy company DTEK, owned by Rinat Akhmetov, claims it revealed the attempts by the self-styled authorities of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" (self- proclaimed Russian-supported Donetsk and Luhansk “people's republics”) to export anthracite coal from the temporarily occupied territories of eastern Ukraine to Spain and Turkey, according to DTEK Energo’s Acting CEO Dmytro Sakharuk.
"We see that there are attempts [by the occupation authorities] to supply about 50,000 tonnes of anthracite per month to Turkey... Moreover, they’re preparing [to load] a vessel with a 30,000-tonne capacity bound to Spain," Sakharuk told a press conference on Wednesday, adding that the company had warned potential buyers that the coal would be checked in the ports upon arrival.
Read alsoAlmost 12 mln tonnes of coal from occupied Donbas brought to Ukraine by rail in 2016"In total, we planned to mine some 8 million tonnes of commercial anthracite at our enterprises [in the temporarily occupied territory]. We have already brought from there 1 million tonnes [of coal] out of these 8 million tonnes. [Local “authorities”] are expected to supply another 2 million tonnes to Starobeshivska thermal power plant [located in the militant-occupied territory]. So, they still have a surplus of 5 million tonnes they need to do something with," Saharuk said.
Read alsoAnthracite stocks at Ukrainian TPPs grow by almost third within weekRussia's anthracite market is overstocked with its own coal, therefore the self-proclaimed authorities of the unrecognized republics are trying to export it, DTEK official said. Because of its illegal origin, such coal could be offered at a 30%-50% discount, he warned.