KIEV, August 30. /TASS/. The South African Republic is the main supplier of coal to Ukraine, Energy and Coalmines Minister Igor Nasalik said on Monday, adding that the Kiev government had stopped purchasing coal on the mines in Donbass, former the major producer of fuel in this country.

"The main supplies of coal come from the South African Republic," he told 112.Ukraina channel. "While previously South African coal cost $110, now its price is 50% less."

According to Nasalik, supplies of coal from Donbass stopped because of combat operations there.

Coal industry experts said ealier the South African coal appeared to be too expensive. Mikhail Volynets, the chief of president of the coalminers' trade union said the coal from Donbass had a much small cost.

He also said there were questions as regards the quality of South African coal. "It has the minimum possible heat efficiency 5,000 kilocalories and is unsuitable for Ukrainian thermal power plants," Volynets indicated.