A modern container terminal could be built in the port of Mariupol (Donetsk region) on the territory of the former coal-loading complex, Ihor Barsky, the head of Mariupol seaport.
“In the long term, we have a dream: to turn the territory of the former coal loading complex of the seaport into a modern container terminal,” he said during the NewPort international exhibition in Kyiv.
Barsky recalled that since 2015, the container flow in the Sea of Azov has been completely stopped. Container lines stopped making calls to Azov after the imposition of European and American sanctions on Crimea.
“Now we are working to return container traffic to Azov. We are supported in this issue by the city, the region, the Ministry of Infrastructure. This is a difficult task, but solvable,” he said.
According to him, at present the port has pre-design studies of this terminal, in the future a feasibility study will be ordered.
“Now we are liquidating the loading complex, selling the equipment that is there, and preparing this serious investment site. How much it will cost – I can’t say yet. We can talk about this when the feasibility study is completed,” Barsky summed up.
Coal mining enterprises of Ukraine in January-August 2021 increased production of run-of-mine coal by 6.2% (by 1.154 million tonnes) compared to the same period in 2020, to 19.681 million tonnes, according to data from the Ministry of Energy.
According to the calculations of Interfax-Ukraine, in particular, coal mining enterprises managed by the ministry increased production by 2.2 times over the eight months of this year (by 2.223 million tonnes), to 4.021 million tonnes, which is largely due to the return of Dobropilliavuhillia assets from DTEK’s lease.
The mines of Donetsk region over the eight months of this year ensured production of 8.129 million tonnes of coal (more by 21.4% compared to January-August 2020), Luhansk – 176,700 tonnes (more by 33.6%), Dnipropetrovsk – 10.506 million tonnes (less by 2.9%), Lviv – 858,100 tonnes (more by 1.1%), and Volyn – 11,000 tonnes (less by 57.6%).
In August 2021, production of run-of-mine coal in the country fell by 27.6% (by 770,200 tonnes) compared to the same month last year, to 2.016 million tonnes.
Ukraine needs to import approximately 3.5 million tonnes of thermal coal during the coming heating season, Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko has said.
“Additionally, it is needed to import about 3.5 million tonnes during the heating season in accordance with the coal accumulation schedule,” the minister said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
At the same time, he noted that generating companies – both DTEK and Centrenergo – have begun to conclude contracts for coal imports.
According him, the price of electricity in the market already makes it possible “to calmly buy coal, produce [electricity], sell and earn money.”
“We expect that we will stabilize the situation with coal and will calmly pass the autumn-winter period,” the minister said.
At the same time, he noted that in the heating season of this year, the Ministry of Energy also expects “certain achievements” – the NPP operation with at least 14 units out of 15 operating, as well as, if necessary, especially in December-January, connection of the 15th atomic block to the system. According to his forecasts, gas reserves in underground storage facilities will reach 19.5 billion cubic meters at the beginning of the autumn-winter period.
According to presidential decree 452/2021, promulgated on Monday, which approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) dated July 30, 2021 on measures to neutralize threats in the energy sector, the Cabinet of Ministers must ensure the accumulation of natural gas, reserve fuels and coal by October 31 of this year for the smooth operation of the fuel and energy complex during the heating period 2021/2022, as well as the priority of providing open wagons for shipment of coal products by rail in accordance with the requests of coal enterprises – mines and processing plants. Also, the government needs to ensure the completion of the implementation of measures regarding the readiness of the fuel and energy complex to work in a special period and make appropriate decisions.
DTEK Energy, amid low coal stocks at its TPPs’ warehouses, has begun importing thermal coal from Kazakhstan and is negotiating coal supplies from Poland and the United States, the company’s press service has said.
According to the press service, DTEK Energy is actively looking for opportunities to provide TPPs with additional imported coal.
“Despite the increased demand for coal on global markets, we are actually starting to import it. The first batch from Kazakhstan is already on its way. Next week we expect the start of coal supplies from Poland. We are also negotiating the supply of shiploads from the United States,” CEO of DTEK Energy Ildar Saleev said.
According to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, coal stocks in the warehouses of thermal power plants of five power generating companies (DTEK Dniproenergo, DTEK Zakhidenergo, DTEK Skhidenergo, Centrenergo and Donbasenergo) as of Wednesday morning dropped to 754,000 tonnes, which is almost 500,000 tonnes less than the accumulation schedule approved by the ministry on August 11 (1.237 million tonnes).
Ukraine in January-June 2021 increased imports of coal and anthracite by 17.6% compared to the same period in 2020, to 10.145 million tonnes.
According to the State Customs Service, coal was imported for $984.046 million, which is 4.1% more than in January-June 2020 ($945.346 million).
Coal came from the Russian Federation for $587.543 million (a share in imports – 59.71%), the United States – for $221.273 million (22.49%), Kazakhstan – for $114.96 million (11.68%), other countries – for $60.27 million (6.12%).
Coal exports by Ukraine for the six months of 2021 amounted to 204 tonnes for $25,000, in particular to Hungary – for $11,000, Belarus – for $7,000, Bulgaria – for $7,000. In the same period last year, no export was carried out.
Corum Group (DTEK) has signed the first contract with Turkey’s leading coal mining company Imbat Madencilik for a pilot supply of KD90T 17.5/28 support sections, Corum said in a press release on Friday.
According to the statement, entering new markets is one of the key directions of the company, approved as part of the adopted development strategy until 2030, among which the goals are to arrange the supply of mining equipment to the markets of Turkey and India.
“Due to the mining and geological features, coal mining in Turkey is associated with other dangerous and complex challenges compared to Ukraine. Therefore, in the foreground are occupational safety and modern technological solutions, which is the focus of Corum Group equipment,” the press service said, citing Director of Corum Trading Oleh Nesterenko.
The supports are optimized for the client’s conditions, they will be manufactured by Corum Druzhkivka Machine Plant (Donetsk region), and the shipment is scheduled for this summer.
“Corum experts paid a lot of attention to the issues that arise with our current fleet of powered roof supports from Poland and China, and suggested solutions to the problems. Therefore, we decided to try and test Corum products,” General Manager of Imbat Madencilik Yavuz Burbut said.
The cost of the deal was not disclosed.
Corum Group is a leading manufacturer of mining equipment in Ukraine, unites machine-building assets of DTEK Energy.
