Ukraine signs first contract to import coal from US
On July 31, the state power generation company Centerenergo announced that it had made a contract to import American coal from the company Xcoal Energy and Resources.
As reported on Centrenergo’s website, the contract was signed as early as July 14, in keeping with the agreements between the presidents of Ukraine and the US which were achieved during Petro Poroshenko’s visit to the US.
According to the contract terms, Centrenergo is expecting to receive 700,000 tons of American coal by the end of the year. The first ship bearing 85,000 tons is expected to arrive at the Yuzhny port at the start of September this year.
All of the American coal will be shipped to meet the needs of the Trypilska thermal power plant, which will enable the plant to renew its operation and continue stably through the autumn and winter period of 2017-2018.
After his visit to the US, President Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine had achieved provisional agreements to purchase 2 million tons of American coal.
At present, Ukraine buys coal from Russia, South Africa and Poland.
Ukraine’s need to purchase coal became necessary after separatist in eastern Ukraine took control of the anthracite coal mines.