Ukraine’s largest energy group DTEK will soon supply the first 150,000 tonnes of G grade (gas) coal from the United States to replenish the stocks in the warehouses of its thermal power plants (TPP) while preparing for the heating season, the company’s press service has said. According to its data, the first bulk carrier with 75,000 tonnes of coal from the United States for Ladyzhyn and Zaporizhia TPPs is expected to arrive in Ukraine this week. This supply will allow reducing gas coal deficit in Ukraine, which arose as a result of increased electricity supply to the TPPs operating on gas coal due to the blockade and the loss of anthracite mines in the territory temporarily uncontrolled by Ukrainian authorities.
The growth in demand for gas coal in Ukraine is also caused by the transfer of anthracite blocks at Ukrainian TPPs to work on gas. From September Zmiyevska TPP started using gas coal, while from November two blocks at Prydniprovska TPP will operate on gas coal as well.
DTEK notes the current level of gas coal production in the country cannot cover the increased needs of TPPs in fuel, even despite the growth in production at DTEK’s mines by 10.5% over the nine months, to about 16.9 million tonnes. In September DTEK TPPs produced almost 90% of electricity from Ukrainian gas, while in September last year the share of electricity production at the company’s TPPs from gas was 68%.
