Russia stops coal supply to Ukraine

Coal supplies from Russia to Ukraine stopped on Nov. 24, the kommersant.ru newspaper reported on Nov. 25, citing Russian coal suppliers. This information was later confirmed by the Ukrainian Energy Ministry. While no official explanation on the supply halts was provided by the Russian side, all media attributed it to the sabotage of Ukraine’s electricity supply to Crimea on Nov. 21. Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak warned on Nov. 24 on a possible “response,” according to a report by the rbc.ru news agency.

Seven out of 14 coal-fired power plants operational in Ukraine burn anthracite coal, which is mined in Ukraine only in the eastern part of Donbas, currently occupied by Russian-backed forces. In 2013, anthracite-burning power plants generated 21% of total Ukraine’s electricity. Problems with anthracite supply decreased the capability of Ukraine’s power plants to deliver enough electric capacity last winter and forced Ukraine to perform rolling blackouts.

In 9M15, Ukrainian thermal power plants burned about 5 mmt of anthracite, 1/3 of which was supplied from Russia. This summer, Ukraine was able to restore supplies of anthracite from the occupied territories of Donbas, but these supplies are interrupted from time to time. Since last Friday, supplies of anthracite from the occupied territories haven’t been delivered, according to DTEK.

Alexander Paraschiy: It won’t be a problem for the Ukrainian energy system to get smoothly though this winter without Russian anthracite, if the anthracite is regularly supplied from the occupied territories of Donbas. Unfortunately, such supplies are not secured, given that it’s Russia that’s the decision-maker on the occupied territories. Therefore, the risks of new blackouts in Ukraine this winter is increasing. As of yesterday, Ukraine’s power plants had 944 kt of anthracite, according to the state power dispatcher. Such stockpiles are 2.7x bigger than a year ago, but still are too small to go through the winter season. They will be enough for power plants to operate only one month.