Ukraine closes unique coal mine near Pokrovsk
Source: Metinvest
The Metinvest company said on Friday it had to suspend operations in this coal mine near Pokrovsk as Russian troop intensified their offensive in this area. Relentless shelling and the risk of escalation prompted the company to evacuate key personnel and their families to safety.
The mine that got “Metinvest’s” some 50% of its coal output, has been the only mining site in the Ukrainian-controlled Donbas that produced coking coal, a vital material for steelmaking.
According to Oleksandr Kalenkov, president of “Ukrmetallurgprom,” the closure could spell trouble for Ukraine’s steel industry. “If Pokrovs’k falls, steel production could drop by half due to coal shortages,” he explained.
Over the past two years, Ukraine produced 6–6.5 million tons of steel annually, with 2024’s forecast rising to 7.5 million tons. However, loss of Pokrovs’k’s resources could slash production to 2–3 million tons.
Kalenkov’s earlier forecast was more optimistic – he argued steel production could bounce back to 12 million tons per year, but the current state of things disrupt these plans.
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