Anthracite stocks at Ukrainian TPPs down by 7.5% within week

At the same time, gas grade coal stocks decreased by 12%, from 910,100 million tonnes to 800,600 tonnes.

In general, coal stocks at Ukraine's TPPs over the week fell by 10%, to 1.314  million tonnes.

Read alsoThree European energy companies want to take part in Ukraine-EU Energy Bridge projectAs UNIAN reported, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kistion said earlier that Ukraine had to accumulate 1.8 million tonnes of anthracite and 2-2.2 million tonnes of gas coal by mid-October 2017 to pass the next heating season.

UNIAN memo. Hostilities in the eastern regions of Ukraine has caused a significant shortage of coal, primarily that of thermal anthracite produced in militant-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Thus, the deficit of coal affects the operation of power plants, which had to reduce their capacity.

In order to ensure smooth operation of power grids, anthracite has been imported from South Africa. However, the issue of coal shipments to thermal power plants became critical after the launch of a blockade of trade with the occupied areas in late January 2017.

Read alsoAnother shipment of anthracite coal from RSA arrives in UkraineAt the end of July, one of the largest energy generating companies, Centrenergo, signed off a contract with the U.S.-based XCoal Energy & Resources to supply 700,000 tonnes of anthracite to Ukraine until the end of 2017.