Russian-backed militants in east Ukraine, who control coal mines, have also stopped deliveries.
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“At the moment, the supply of coal from the uncontrolled territories, as well as from Russian Federation, is limited”, he told lawmakers. He said Kiev had one month of its own coal supplies left and was seeking alternative supplies from South Africa.
The minister said two ships carrying 168,000 mt and 80,000 mt of anthracite respectively, are heading to Ukraine from South Africa and expected to arrive on December 4 and December 12. “But in the long-term problematic questions will arise”.
Since last weekend when saboteurs downed pylons bringing electricity from Ukraine houses have been dark and public transport has been immobilised, Long queues of motorists have formed at the petrol stations still supplied with fuel.
Earlier this week, Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak accused Ukraine of not repairing the sabotaged power lines for “political reasons”.
The explosions – orchestrated by unknown attackers – last week left some 1.6 million people in the dark and further infuriated Moscow as Kiev expects its free-trade agreement with the European Union to come into force from January 1, 2016.
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Moscow deeply regrets and has expressed strong indignation that the electrical energy supply from Ukraine to Russia’s Crimea have not been resumed, the Kremlin spokesman said Friday. “Russia’s goal is to completely destabilize the situation in Ukraine”, he said.
