Third batch of U.S. coal arrives in Ukraine

"There are 80,000 tonnes of coal on board the bulk carrier. We plan to unload the cargo within three or four days," it said.

The first batch with anthracite from the U.S. arrived in Ukraine aboard the Ocean Ambitious bulk carrier. Some 62,000 tonnes of coal was unloaded within less than two days and supplied to Centrenergo's thermal power stations in 875 wagons within 21 days.

A total of 540,000 tonnes of anthracite has already been delivered to the warehouses of Ukrainian power plants in the nine months of 2017, according to acting CEO of Yuzhny Vitaly Zhukovsky.

Read alsoFirst batch of U.S. coal on its way to UkraineUNIAN memo. Hostilities in the eastern regions of Ukraine have 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.

Anthracite has been imported from South Africa to ensure smooth operation of power grids.

After the launch of a blockade of trade with the occupied areas in late January 2017, the issue of coal shipments to thermal power plants became critical.

At the end of July, one of the largest energy generating companies, Centrenergo, signed a contract with U.S.-based XCoal Energy & Resources for the supply of 700,000 tonnes of anthracite to Ukraine until the end of 2017.