The minister of energy and coal industry Vladimir Demchyshin said, DTEK was stimulating miner strikes in Western Ukraine.
“All this happens in the West: Lviv, Volyn, from where we supply coal to Zakhidenergo. DTEK doesn’t want us to supply this coal, so they try to make miners stop working and go on strikes”, he said.
In 2015 state mines supplied 100 thousand tons of coal to Zakhidenergo (owned by DTEK), but never received any payment.
“This year we have already supplied some 80 thousand tons of coal. But they haven’t paid”, Demchyshin added.
According to him, the state budget will provide 500 million UAH to clear miners’ salary debts.
“For January we have received 50 million UAH, and for February they promise us 180 million. That’s enough to clear all debts. We hope to receive this money on February 1-2. But some miners don’t want to wait. They demand money now. I guess, that’s a political action”, stressed Demchyshin. (Ukrainian metal)