Coke and chemical plants of Ukraine in January-May of this year imported 4 million tonnes of raw coking coal and coking coal concentrate, which is 4.2% more than in the same period last year.
According to an information note of the Ukrmetalurgprom association, the supply of Ukrainian coal mined during this period amounted to 1.64 million tonnes, which is 8.6% more than in the same period last year.
In general, in January-May 2021, Ukrainian coke and chemical plants received 5.64 million tonnes of coal for coking, which is 5.4% more compared to January-May 2020. At the same time, the share of imported coal in the total supply amounted to 70.9% versus 71.8% in January-May 2020.
Some 3.424 million tonnes of coke (101.8% compared to January-May 2020) were supplied to Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises, including 3.346 million tonnes of Ukrainian origin (100.3%), and 68,000 tonnes of imported (4.53 times more). The share of imported coke in the total supply amounted to 1.99% versus 0.45% in January-May last year.
In addition, in January-May 2021, some 1.5 million tonnes of scrap metal were procured (134.8% compared to the same period in 2020), of which 1.354 million tonnes (123.5%) were supplied to Ukrainian consumers as imported. Exports of scrap metal in January-May 2021 amounted to 146,000 tonnes (887%).
It is noted that the provision of metallurgical enterprises with Ukrainian iron ore raw materials for the specified period was carried out in accordance with the needs of metallurgical production. The iron ore was not imported. Iron ore exports in January-May 2021 amounted to 18.54 million tonnes (98.2% compared to the same period in 2020).
According to the updated data of Ukrmetalurgprom, in January-May of this year, 14.029 million tonnes of sinter were produced (107.8% versus January-May 2020), 4.107 million tonnes of gross coke with moisture content 6% (102.2%), some 8.903 million tonnes of cast iron (109.1%), some 8.987 million tonnes of steel (108.3%), some 8.023 million tonnes of rolled products (108%), and 390,000 tonnes of pipe products (115.8%).
As of June 10, 2021, of the main operating production facilities 18 out of 21 blast furnaces, seven out of eight open-hearth furnaces, 14 out of 16 converters, five out of 15 electric furnaces and 16 out of 17 continuous casting machines were in operation.
International consulting company Environmental Resources Management (ERM, the United Kingdom) will provide assistance to the Energy Ministry in the implementation of the program for the transformation of coal regions, the Energy Ministry said on its website on late Thursday. According to the report, ERM, which specializes in drafting sustainable development projects, presented a draft plan for a pilot project for the transformation of coal regions on May 13.
It is noted that in preparation for the project, British and Ukrainian specialists must determine the coal region where the pilot project will be implemented, conduct preliminary consultations with stakeholders and develop a transformation plan directly by late March 2022.
The program, which provides for drafting a project for a fair transformation of one of the coal regions of Ukraine, is funded by the British government, the Energy Ministry said.
As reported, in March this year, the Canadian mining company Black Iron, which is implementing a project to create a new iron ore project in Kryvy Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region), announced the involvement of Environmental Resources Management to conduct an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA).
ERM was selected to lead this ESIA based on their highly regarded global reputation of expertise in this field that includes several successful projects also conducted in Ukraine.
ERM has over 140 offices globally with headquarter in London.
In the second half of March, the Energy Ministry, headed at that time by Yuriy Vitrenko, withdrew for revision the concept of reforming the coal industry, which envisages, in particular, the merger of promising mines with PJSC Centrenergo and subsequent privatization and liquidation of unprofitable enterprises.
Ukraine in January-March 2021 increased imports of coal and anthracite (foreign economic activity code 2701) by 18.6% (by 813,072 tonnes) compared to the same period in 2020, to 5.194 million tonnes. According to the State Customs Service, coal was imported for $474.508 million, which is 0.4% more than in January-March 2020 ($472.525 million).
The Russia supplied coal worth $286.862 million (the share of imported coal is 60.45%), the United States for $107.046 million (22.56%), Kazakhstan for $56.851 million (11.98%), other countries for $23.75 million ( 5.01%).
Ukraine’s export of coal over the first three months of 2021 amounted to 204 tonnes for $25,000, while in the first quarter of 2020 it was not exported. In particular, export to Hungary was worth $11,000, Belarus some $7,000 and Bulgaria some $7,000.
Ukraine in January-October 2020 reduced import of coal and anthracite (foreign economic activity code 2701) by 19.4% (by 3.359 million tonnes) compared to the same period in 2019, to 13.966 million tonnes.
According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, coal was imported for $1.432 billion, which is 39.4% less than in January-October 2019 ($2.365 billion).
Coal came from Russia for the tune of $869.797 million (a share in imports of 60.74%), the United States for $427.945 million (29.88%), Kazakhstan for $96.257 million (6.72%), and other countries for $38.09 million (2.66%).
In the first 10 months of 2020, Ukraine exported 2,255 tonnes of coal for $0.186 million, compared with 13,318 tonnes for $0.527 million during the same period in 2019, including $0.156 million to Poland, $0.027 million to Moldova and $0.004 million to Hungary.
Ukraine in January-September 2020 reduced imports of coal and anthracite (foreign economic activity code 2701) by 14.9% (by 2.234 million tonnes) compared to the same period in 2019, to 12.717 million tonnes.
According to the State Customs Service, coal imports amounted to $1.322 billion, which is 36.7% less than in January-September 2019.
At the same time, coal was imported from the Russian Federation for $796.222 million (60.22% of total imports), the United States for $400.793 million (30.31%), Kazakhstan for $87.431 million (6.61%), other countries for $37.712 million (2.85%).
Ukraine’s coal export for the eight months of 2020 amounted to 2,024 tonnes for $163,000 versus 13,157 tonnes for $508,000 in January-September -2019, in particular to Poland for $156,000 and Moldova for $7,000.
The duty of 65% on coal imported from the Russian Federation to Ukraine with some exceptions is imposed from April 15, 2020, according to government resolution No. 261 dated March 18.
The exception is anthracite coal, bituminous coal and coking coal for metal industry, as well as lean coal for companies generating electricity and heat.
The imposition of the duty on imported electricity earlier announced at the government meeting is not envisaged in the document.
