Gas-grade coal reserves will end in Ukraine in January at minus 5 below zero — experts

Reserves of the gas-grade coal, whose mining is not affected by the conflict in Donbas, may end in Ukraine already in January 2016 at the temperature of minus 5 below zero. Such a forecast was made by experts from the US Department of Energy advising the Ukraine’s government, a sources in the Ukrainian government told TASS on Monday. The US specialists will present their recommendations in connection with developments behind closed doors, the source added.

According to data of the Ukraine’s energy system operator Ukrenergo, 1.5 mln tons of coal are in storages of the thermal power plants, including about 900,000 tons of gas-grade coal and 600,000 tons of anthracite. Reserves were largely established at just two out of fourteen power plants. Storage reserves at thermal power plants reached 3.4 mln tons in Ukraine last year.

Ukraine is challenged by the shortage of anthracite grade coal since August 2014 because of the conflict in the Donbas. Supplies of such fuel to thermal power plants fell twice year-on-year in June 2014. Gas-grade coal-fired thermal power plants have to shoulder the major burden because of that.