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Fourth vessel with coal from South Africa reaches Ukraine

The MBA Rosaria vessel at the Ilyichevsk port has 84,600 tons of South African coal

© ITAR-TASS/EPA/ALAA BADARNEH

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Ukrainian government accused of fraud with coal purchase in South Africa

KIEV, November 25. /TASS/. The fourth vessel with South African coal arrived on Tuesday to Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian ministry of energy and coal industry said.

“The MBA Rosaria vessel at the Ilyichevsk port has 84,600 tons of South African coal,” the press service said.

In December, two more vessels — the Rosco Poplar and Bottiglieri Sophie Green — are expected to deliver 77,800 and 84,000 tons of coal from South Africa.

Ukraine buys South African coal at a price of $86 per ton, taking into account transportation costs to a Ukrainian port. The final price after transportation to a heat station goes up to $110-112. Three ships loaded with coal have already reached Ukraine, another three are expected later, but the price may be changed.

On November 4, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council raised the issue of transparency of the coal purchase deal with South Africa. The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office opened an embezzlement case.

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