Ukraine did not create the state coal reserves, as there were no problems with coal delivery prior to Donbass blockade, while the price of imported coal was much higher than that of the local coal.
To diversify coal deliveries the minister of energy and coal industry Igor Nasalik suggests returning the so-called coal component of the State Reserve and providing means from the state budget to create coal reserves.
“Why would we have it? There were no problems with Ukrainian coal delivery to thermal power plants prior to the blockade. If we did create reserves, we would have had the following: in winter we would have burned 1.2 million tons of anthracite. If we imported it, we would have lost 1.5 billion UAH. Who should have compensated for this? Population through the increase of tariffs. But is it justifiable?” he noted. (Ukrainian metal)