In 2015 Ukraine decreased coal imports from Russia thrice, and increased imports from the South African Republic twice.
“We bought some 2 million tons of coal from Russia last year. This year we bought less than 600 thousand tons. So of what dependency on Russia can anyone say?” ponders the minister for energy and coal industry Vladimir Demchishyn.
At the same time Ukraine increases coal imports from other countries, from SAR in particular (800 thousand tons in 2015 and 400 thousand tons in 2014).
The minister is sure that this would allow Ukraine to survive this winter.
On December 5, Ukraine received a ship with 168 thousand tons of coal from SAR. Another supply of 170 thousand tons is expected in January 2016. (Ukrainian metal)