In January-April 2015, the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine paid USD 1.166 billion to the state-owned mines compared to USD 910 million in products obtained instead. Thus, losses for four months reached UAH 250 million, according to Minister for Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn, RBK-Ukraine (РБК-Україна) reports.
The Minister added that a fuss was made over the closure of mines.
"When you speak with the directors of mines and even with local trade unions, they understand that something should be done with those mines that are unprofitable, they should be closed", he said.
Demchyshyn said he is planning to agree an industry development program with Prime-Minister Arseny Yatseniuk this week, what envisages the closure of the most loss-making state-run mining companies.
“At least, we will discuss it and raise other essential issues that can be worked out for a short time. We will finalize the project and if we succeed, it will be submitted for consideration of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday. If not, it will be duscussed at its next meeting”, he added.
