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 Naftogaz produced more than 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas in January-July, which is more than 10% more year-over-year, the company said in a press release on Friday.
“The increase in production was made possible due to the implementation of the drilling program in 2020, as well as the completion of drilling of two wells in 2021,” the company said.
In addition, DTEK Naftogaz in 2021 carried out overhaul and stimulation operations, as well as process operations at more than 20 wells of the operating stock, the company said.
“A number of technologies that were applied at the same time were used by the company for the first time in Ukraine. DTEK’s oil and gas business remains a technological leader and a driver for the development of the oil and gas industry in Ukraine,” DTEK Oil & Gas said.
According to the company, by the end of 2021 it is planned to complete the drilling of two more wells and put into operation a modular refrigeration unit at Machukhske field. This will allow reaching a new record production rate in 2021 of 2 billion cubic meters of gas.
“Due to sustainable process development and systemic investments, we ensure the growth of gas production from year to year […]. The use of fiscal stimulating instruments by the government, as well as a stable and transparent regulatory environment, are extremely important for the further effective development of the industry,” CEO of DTEK Oil & Gas Ihor Schurov said in the press release.
By the end of 2020, DTEK Naftogaz increased natural gas production by 10.8% (by 180,000 million cubic meters) compared to 2019, to 1.84 billion cubic meters.
DTEK, GAS, OIL, PRODUCTION
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).
DTEK Energy Holding has not abandoned plans to invest in the generation of electricity from renewable sources in Europe, and is now exploring opportunities for this in different countries, CEO of DTEK Renewables Maris Kuniсkis has said.
“Yes, this is in our focus. Plans to invest in Europe remain. As long as there is no stability in Ukraine, we focus on abroad,” he said during the 12th International Ukrainian Energy Forum of the Adam Smith Institute on Friday.
At the same time, he said that, since the market in Europe is also changing, the company has to reorient itself to other countries, abandoning the development of projects in those that were considered in 2020. In addition, Kuniсkis did not disclose the details of possible projects.
DTEK Oil & Gas produced over 960 million cubic meters of gas in January-June 2021, which is 10% more than in the same period in 2020, the company said.
“DTEK Oil & Gas is steadily increasing gas production thanks to systemic investments and the introduction of innovative technologies,” CEO of the company Ihor Schurov said.
The company is reportedly planning in the fourth quarter of this year to complete a large infrastructure project to build a refrigeration unit to optimize production at Machukhske field (Poltava region).
DTEK Oil & Gas has also already started geological exploration and office work in new deposits – Budyschansko-Chutivska and Zinkovska fields, which supplemented the company’s asset portfolio in 2020, the report says.
DTEK Oil & Gas recalled that in general, in 2021, the company is carrying out a program of drilling, workover and stimulation at base fields in Poltava region: during the first half of the year, the company commissioned two new wells, as well as carried out workover and stimulation operations at 21 wells of the operating stock.
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.
