Ukraine significantly reduces consumption of scarce anthracite

"While earlier we consumed more than 9 million tonnes of anthracite coal per year, it will have been about 5 million tonnes by the end of this year. This was made possible by the measures taken by the government to transfer the anthracite blocks of Ukrainian TPPs to a gas coal group," he said.

He also said that Ukraine reduced by 34%, to 532,000 tonnes y-o-y, consumption of anthracite in November 2017.

Read alsoSome 36 coal mines in occupied Donbas completely, partially flooded – expertAccording to Kistion, in order to increase the supply of coal from a gas group that is mined in Ukraine, the leadership of the newly established National Coal Company will have to determine the list of state mines that are promising for investment.

"By launching this process, we can reduce the cost of maintaining unprofitable mines in the amount of UAH 1.5 billion per year. This is the means for the modernization of coal enterprises in order to increase the production of Ukrainian coal from a gas group," Kistion said.

UNIAN memo. Hostilities in the eastern regions of Ukraine have caused a significant shortage of coal, primarily that of thermal anthracite group produced in militant-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Read alsoMedia reveal price of U.S. coal for Ukraine's CentrenergoThe energy companies began to transfer the thermal power plants' units from anthracite to gas coal feeding. However, there has been a shortage of the latter since the output of gas coal did not keep pace with its consumption growth. To solve the problem, the companies signed contracts for coal imports from South Africa and the United States.

In October 2017, Ukraine reduced consumption of anthracite by 30%.

On December 6, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to create a National Coal Company, which united 33 state mines.