KIEV, October 27. /TASS/. Ukraine has accumulated 16.9 bln cubic meters of gas instead of 19 bln cubic meters needed for passing the upcoming winter season, and 2.6 mln tons of coal instead of needed 3.2 mln tons, the country’s minister of energy and coal industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn said on Tuesday.
"Currently, we only have 16.9 bln cubic meters. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to accumulate 19 bln cubic meters of gas we’ve been talking about, by the end of the year, despite the funds from the EBRD," he said.
According to Demchyshyn, Ukraine will be able to up its gas reserves to 17.2 bln cubic meters or slightly higher due to increased gas consumption in the country, which has already exceeded expectations. Ukraine needs at least 28 bln cubic meters of gas for safely passing the upcoming heating season, the minister said.
"We have 2.6 mln tons of coal stored," Demchishin said, adding that "in October coal reserves increased by 200,000 tons." "Totally we need 3.2 mln tons of coal," he added.
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