Ukraine makes arrangements to buy coal from the US
According to the Minister of the Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, Ihor Nasalyk, Ukrainian authorities are holding negations regarding the purchase of anthracite coal in the US, Korrespondent.net reported.
“I have information that negotiations are now being held regarding the shipment of one million tons of anthracite coal from the US to Ukraine,” the minister said at a press conference.
Nasalyk specified that negotiations are being held with private companies.
The minister also noted that the existing reserves of coal are enough for the thermal power plant to run until the end of winter, but in the event of a complete coal blockade from the Donbas, they will be virtually nonexistent towards the end of March.
Nasalyk pointed out that if an agreement is reached, it will take at least 50-60 days for the coal to arrive in Ukraine.
On the 26th of January, Ukrainian veterans blocked the Luhansk-Lysychansk-Popasnaya railway in order to prevent trade with illegal armed groups. Since then, there have been no coal deliveries from the ATO zone.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman stated previously that there is still no alternative to coal from the Donbas.