Ukraine will consider the possibility of opening a quota for the export of 100,000 tons of coal to Poland in September, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said.
“On behalf of the President of Ukraine, at the request of the Polish side, Ukraine is ready to consider the possibility of opening quotas for coal exports to Poland. We are talking about 100,000 tons in September, which are now critically needed by our Polish partners,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Shmyhal specified that coal reserves in the warehouses of Ukrainian power plants amount to almost 2 million tons, which is 2.5 times more than a year ago. “Therefore, we are ready to lend a shoulder of support to our Polish friends,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine added that during the visit of his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki to Kyiv, the parties also discussed the restoration and commissioning of the Khmelnytsky NPP-Rzeszow power line.
“We planned to finish before December 14, but thanks to the acceleration of work, we can complete a week earlier. This will allow us to export an additional 1,000 MW to Poland. For our part, we ask Poland to assist in expanding export quotas within the framework of ENTSO-E,” Shmyhal said.
According to him, Ukraine expects that by the end of 2022 the amount of available transmission capacity in the direction of Slovakia, Romania and Hungary will increase from 300 MW by another 200-300 MW, and in the direction of Poland – over 1000 MW.
As reported, since mid-June 2022, Ukraine has set zero quotas for the export of all types of coal, except for coking coal, and on September 7, it completely banned the export of Ukrainian coal.
According to the State Customs Service, Ukraine’s coal exports for seven months of 2022 amounted to 450.6 thousand tons for $145.917 million, incl. to Slovakia – by $93.349 million, Poland – by $34.084 million, Hungary – by $15.919 million, other countries – by $2.565 million.
At a meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet of Ministers completely banned the export of Ukrainian coal, Taras Melnychuk, a representative of the government in the Verkhovna Rada, said in his Telegram channel.
“Changes have been made to the volume of quotas for goods whose export is subject to licensing, approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of December 29, 2021 No. 1424, in terms of a complete ban on the export of coal of Ukrainian origin,” Melnychuk wrote.
Earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers, by Resolution No. 666 of June 10, 2022, made similar changes to Resolution No. 1424 of December 29, 2021, setting zero quotas and thereby banning the export of natural gas, fuel oil, as well as hard coal, anthracite, briquettes, pellets and similar types of solid fuels obtained from hard coal, except for coking coal.
According to the State Customs Service, since the beginning of 2022, Ukraine’s coal exports amounted to 450.6 thousand tons for $145.917 million, incl. to Slovakia – by $93.349 million, Poland – by $34.084 million, Hungary – by $15.919 million, other countries – by $2.565 million.
In January-July 2021, exports amounted to 0.2 thousand tons for $0.025 million.
In January-July 2022, Ukraine reduced the import of hard coal and anthracite (HS code 2701) by 2.7 times (by 7 million 367.3 thousand tons) compared to the same period in 2021 – to 4 million 308, 5 thousand tons.
According to the State Customs Service, coal was imported for $1 billion 27.466 million, which is 11.5% less than in January-July 2021 ($1 billion 160.575 million).
Coal came from the Russian Federation for $420.589 million (share in imports 40.92%), the USA – for $277.972 million (27.05%), Australia – for $100.235 million (9.76%), other countries – for $228.67 million ( 22.26%).
Export of coal by Ukraine for seven months of 2022 amounted to 450.6 thousand tons for $145.917 million, incl. to Slovakia – by $93.349 million, Poland – by $34.084 million, Hungary – by $15.919 million, other countries – by $2.565 million. In January-July 2021, exports amounted to 0.2 thousand tons for $0.025 million.
As reported, Ukraine in 2021 increased the import of hard coal and anthracite by 15.4% (by 2 million 612.018 thousand tons) compared to 2020 – up to 19 million 563.048 thousand tons.
Coal was imported for $2 billion 488.696 million, which is 47.2% more than in 2020 ($1 billion 690.541 million). Coal came from the Russian Federation for $1 billion 545.208 million, the USA for $494.636 million, Kazakhstan for $253.469 million, and other countries for $195.383 million.
Germany plans to stop importing Russian coal by autumn, this will be possible at the expense of other suppliers, including South Africa.
“This is something that is quite real,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters on Tuesday in Pretoria, where he is visiting. He is quoted by the German media.
Earlier in April, during a visit to Latvia, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said that Germany would gradually stop buying Russian energy resources, in particular, by the end of the year it would completely stop importing Russian oil. From coal imports, Burbock said, it is planned to stop before the end of the summer.
After the first test deliveries of coal to Poland in the amount of 50,000 tonnes, DTEK Energy Holding is considering the possibility of ensuring regular export of energy resources, taking into account the problems of logistics in the conditions of war, Dmytro Sakharuk, the Executive Director of DTEK, said.
“We made the first test shipments of coal to Poland. This is a small amount – 50,000 tonnes. Unfortunately, there are very big difficulties in terms of logistics, because the railway infrastructure in both Ukraine and Poland is not designed for such a volume of movement of goods. As well as ports in Poland – Gdansk and Gdynia. Therefore, there are test deliveries, but there no large volumes, as it could be done via the sea, Pivdenny port, for example,” Sakharuk said in a commentary to the Energy Reform portal.
At the same time, he assured that the company is considering the possibilities and continues to work out ways to supply coal to Poland.
“Coal from other sources is critical for Poland to replace the volume of deliveries from Russia that were banned. It would be very good if Ukraine would lend a shoulder to Poland, which helps us a lot and would help the Poles survive the rejection of Russian coal,” he said.
According to his calculations, in times of seasonal coal surplus, the energy holding could ship approximately 100,000-150,000 tonnes per month to Poland – the volume that remains after providing its thermal power plants and other consumers.
“This will not ensure full diversification of supplies, but it will be our contribution to the fact that our Polish friends will receive assistance. It is suitable in terms of quality. You just need to learn how to quickly and smoothly deliver it to Poland,” DTEK’s top manager emphasized.
At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that the supply of coal from Ukraine by rail is a faster and more economical alternative for the Poles compared to sea supplies.
Swiss authorities are imposing a ban on coal imports from Russia following a similar decision by the European Union, the Swiss Federal Council said in a statement.
“The new measures include far-reaching sanctions on goods, including a ban on imports of lignite and coal as well as on goods that are important sources of revenue for Russia (e.g. timber, cement, seafood, caviar),” the statement said.
“In addition, there are export bans on goods that can help strengthen Russia’s industrial capacities (e.g. industrial robots or certain chemical products),” the document said.
BANS, COAL, IMPORTS, RUSSIA, SWITZERLAND
