by VK
Ukrainian Minister for Fuel and Coal Industry Yuri Boyko recently promised to switch all gas power plants to coal. However, specialists say that there are many technical difficulties that may impede the plans to reduce coal consumption. This needs studies of experts and pilot projects. Determination of practicability and expenses of the switch from gas to coal can only be based on such projects. Russia and Ukraine discussed the problem in a video conference yesterday.
Yuri Kovalchuk, an expert of the Institute for Energy Studies
2011 was like the “Rubicon” for Ukrainian coal industry because it switched from state to private capital. With high export prices for gas in Ukraine, the government is searching for an alternate source of energy such as coal. Russian coal deposits are not deep and allow open-pit mining. Ukrainian coal deposits are deep, making coal mining expensive and needs subsidies.
Alexey Stogny, head of the Department for Forecasting Development of Fuel Bases of the Energy Institute of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences
In 2011, coal mining facilities were quite successful. Yet, despite Ukraine having the world’s 7th largest coal reserves, the total output of coal mining is low. It needs increasing, taking the high price for gas supply from Russia into account.
Ivan Grachev, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Energy
Forecasts for Russian coal industry are positive, just as the results of development of the sphere last year. Coal production is to increase 1.5-fold by 2030. Increase of production is mainly achieved through exports, the structure of domestic consumption of energy resources is not well-balanced, while oil and gas have high demand, coal is not used actively.
Grachev noted lack of efforts, including legislative ones, in boosting economic and ecological efficiency in using coal as fuel and promised that his Committee will work on the problem.
Yuri Saakyan, Director General of the Institute for Problems of Natural Monopolies
Coal mining industry is quite a capital-intensive sphere of economy, this is why its modernization will be costly for investors. In this case, formation of a beneficial investment climate for coal industry becomes a priority issue. The program for development of coal industry includes investments of 3.7 trillion rubles, 250 billion of which will be issued by from the budget, so the main investing will be made by owners of coal companies. Thus, fulfillment of the program requires the sphere to be attractive for investors.
Ruben Badalov, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Independent Trade Union of Workers of Coal Industry
We need to take into account such problems as poor housing for coal mining staff, ecological repercussions of coal mining, security and labour protection. The sphere of industry is science-driven, so it needs new technological schemes for security of work and processing of coal.
