Volodymyr Kistion announces Ukraine has cut the consumption of anthracite almost twofold

In 2017, Ukraine cut almost twofold the consumption of anthracite coal as compared to 2016. In particular, in 2016 the consumption of anthracite made up 8.9 million tons, while in 2017, according to preliminary estimates, this showing was 4.8 million tons of such variety of coal. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for Energy and Infrastructure Volodymyr Kistion told.

"Due to an increase in the generation by nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power stations we economized 2.3 million tons of "A" coal. The amount of 1.8 million tons of anthracite has been replaced by gas coal mined in Ukraine. These are rather good indicators, which prove that everything is possible," said Volodymyr Kistion.

According to him, those are not just sheer numbers, it's a huge work of power engineers over the last year as part of a Government plan for Ukraine to achieve energy independence.

"We are facing an ambitious and at the same time difficult task - to make Ukraine energy self-sufficient. Hence, step by step, by reducing the consumption of scarce anthracite, increasing the domestic gas production, reforming the energy sector of our state, we are approaching this goal", summed up the Vice Prime Minister.