Ukraine's coal reserves 'unprecedented' low, not enough for another month - Deputy Energy Minister

Two out of ten coal-fired power plants in Ukraine only have enough stock for a few days, as the key coal mines supplying the plants are located in Donbass where Kiev and self-defense forces are fighting, says Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister Yury Zyukov.

In 2012 and 2013 Ukraine extracted about 85 million tons of coal, of which 40 billion tons were used for domestically, Zyukov told Glavkom magazine, adding that previously Ukraine even exported coal.

“Situations as this one have never happened in the history of an independent Ukraine, we have never had such precedents.”

“Do you know that Zmiev TPP has 30 thousand tons of coal reserves and the Tripol TPP has 50 thousand? That is literally enough for just for a few days,” Zyukov said. “That is why we needed coal from South Africa - we have no reserves.” .... http://rt.com/business