REUTERS
Ukraine boosted coal imports in monetary terms by 1.9 times in January-September 2017, year-over-year, to US$1.899 billion, according to the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.
Russia was the key coal supplier over the period under review, accounting for 54.9%. Coal shipments from Russia were estimated at US$1.043 billion.
The United States ranked second with 25%, having supplied coal worth US$477.9 million and Canada was third with 6.1% and US$166.2 million.
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The State Fiscal Service said that in the nine months, Ukraine exported coal to Russia to the tune of US$40.8 million, Slovakia (US$28 million), Turkey (US$2.5 million), and other countries (US$3.9 million).
As UNIAN reported, Ukraine started facing an acute shortage of coal since the summer of 2014 as a result of hostilities in the east of the country. It completely lost control over some areas in Donbas with coal mines. After that, the country began to import coal.
In 2016, Ukraine reduced spending on coal imports by 10% from 2015, to US$1.467 billion.
This year, the two largest power generation companies that consume thermal coal have signed contracts for shipments of anthracite from South Africa (DTEK) and the United States (Centrenergo).