Ukraine increased imports of anthracite coal from areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists on Thursday after repairing a key railroad link, the press office of the Ukrainian army reported Friday.
The Nikitovka-Mayorsk link was shut for almost two months due to destruction of infrastructure by artillery fighting in the area in early June.
At least 43 railroad cars loaded with anthracite already passed through the link, resuming supplies to Ukrainian power plants, the press office said.
All Ukraine's anthracite mines are in the areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk, while most of the country's power plants are in mainland Ukraine that is controlled by the central government.
Ukraine's reserves of anthracite coal decreased to 361,100 mt as of July 27, compared with 367,800 mt as of July 25, according to UkrEnergo.
Ukraine, which consumes about 9.5 million mt of anthracite a year, needs to store at least 1 million mt of anthracite by October 15, before the 6-month high demand season begins, according to the energy and coal industry ministry.
The current levels of anthracite stocks show that the country needs to triple the reserves over the next two-and-a-half months to meet the target.
Ukraine plans to resume imports of anthracite from South Africa and Australia later this year to make sure it has enough coal in stock for the winter.
