Ukraine to Reduce Use of Gas, Import 1m Tonnes of Coal
In 2008, Ukraine is going to import no less than 1m tonnes of coal in a bid to reduce the use of natural gas, the Interfax- Ukraine news agency reported on 15 May, quoting Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan.
Prodan was commenting on the ministry’s effort to get ready for a new heating season at a news conference in Kiev on the same day.
“We are going to minimize the use of gas at the expense of the increased use of coal,” the agency quoted Prodan as saying.
Prodan said that in light of the looming increase in the price for imported gas in 2009, by November 2008 Ukraine’s thermal power plants and heating facilities should accumulate over 4m tonnes of coal.
Originally published by Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Kiev, in Russian 1548 15 May 08.
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