In keeping with preliminary estimates of the coal industry ministry, in 2009 state-run mines are expected to extract 51 - 52 tons of coal, First Deputy Coal Industry Minister Oleksandr Frantsyshko said Tuesday.
This is envisaged by the 2009 program for the development of state-run coal mining enterprises. The programs of nongovernmental enterprises have not been examined, the deputy minister noted.
In his words, in 2007 the ministry's coal mines put out 43 million tons of coal, and this year the output is to grow by 4 million tons.
As reported, the National Energy Strategy of Ukraine envisaged for the period until 2030 a rise in Ukraine's coal output to 80 million tons in 2006, to 82 million tons in 2007, 90 million tons in 2008 and 2009 each, and 100 million tons in 2010.
According to the State Statistics Committee, in 2007 coal enterprises of all forms of ownership extracted 75.4 million tons of coal.
This year the coal industry ministry reported an aggregate coal output of 58.67 million tons for January - September.
