Ukraine again extends moratorium on bankruptcy of state mines

MOSCOW. Feb 7 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday passed a law extending the moratorium on bankruptcy of state-owned coal mines until January 1, 2025, Ukrainian media reported, quoting data on the parliament's website.

The adoption of the law was backed by 243 members of parliament, the required minimum being 226 votes.

The law extends the moratorium on enforced debt collection and bankruptcy of individual energy enterprises. In addition to state-owned coal mining enterprises, the moratorium, applies to VostGOK, Ukraine's only uranium mining and processing enterprise, and regional energy companies where the military operation is ongoing, the parliament's profile committee said on Telegram.

Extending the moratorium safeguards the property of these enterprises and their ability to operate.

Alexei Kucherenko, first deputy chairman of the Rada Energy Committee, said state mines owed UAH 14 billion for electricity as of the middle of January.

The moratorium on bankruptcy of state mines has been in effect in Ukraine for several years and has been extended repeatedly.