Ukraine was planning to switch to using coal instead of gas in all the country’s power engineering industry, which would make it possible to save approximately 6 billion cubic meters of gas annually.

Mr Yuriy Boiko Minister of Energy and the Coal said “We will use coal in all Ukrainian power industry. It will take us approximately a year to switch, but we have already started the process.”

He said that for implementation of the program a law should be passed that would allow the privatization of TPPs or conveying them into concession. He added that “As soon as the VR passes the law allowing TPPs to be taken off the list of property not subject to privatization, we will put them for concession or privatization. But on one condition they should be converted to using water and coal technology.”

The minister also mentioned that Ukraine negotiated with its Chinese partners the implementation of the corresponding technology. He also said “Currently, we are working on this technology jointly with our Chinese partners. It will help us save approximately 6 billion cubic meters of gas annually.”

(Sourced from www.unian.net)