KIEV, September 11. /ITAR-TASS/. The shortage of coal in Ukraine in 2014 may reach 5 million tonnes, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman said on Thursday.

Andrei Lysenko, spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council, blamed the shortages on militias in the eastern Luhansk region who had blocked coal supplies to the rest of the country.

Some thermal power plants have had to suspend operation due to the lack of fuel.

The government is seeking to replace coal from eastern regions with imports from other countries such as South Africa, Brazil and Chile.

Experts told ITAR-TASS that plans to import coal from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and other countries were unrealistic and economically unfeasible.