Ukraine plans to import up to 200,000 tonnes of anthracite - minister's aide

MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - Ukraine is conducting negotiations with other countries on importing up to 200,000 tonnes of anthracite to create thermal generation reserves for the 2022-2023 heating season, Maksym Nemchynov, aide to the Ukrainian energy minister, said on Thursday.

"We are communicating very actively with foreign governments concerning assistance in buying up to 200,000 tonnes of anthracite. This would enable us to have some extra equipment in reserve, which we cannot employ without having anthracite," Ukrainian media quoted Nemchynov as saying during an Energy Club discussion on Thursday.

With the loss of anthracite deliveries from Donbas in 2014, numerous power facilities have started to switch to gas-grade coals wherever possible, and yet some can still operate on anthracite, he said.

"Despite the active re-equipment of facilities to G-grade coal, there are still some anthracite users left, there are some units at the Centerenergo, and some power plants have such units, as well. We understand that, as well as the fact that we could have those units in reserve in case of some contingencies on main units. Therefore, we're speaking of anthracite imports," he said.

Based on the volume of coal consumption and production in Ukraine, there is enough coal to pass through the upcoming heating season and make sure that the thermal generation industry works well, Nemchynov said.

There is also enough of Ukrainian coal for other industries using it, he said.