Ukraine can lose 50% of stell production if Russia seizes Pokrovsk – experts

Source: Ekonomichna Pravda

Ukraine could lose at least a half of its steel production if Russian forces occupy Pokrovsk as it will leave Ukraine steel producers without coal. The warning came from Oleksandr Kalenkov who leads “Ukrmetallurgprom.”, the Ukrainian steel industry association.

“In the past two years, we have produced between 6 and 6.5 million tons of steel yearly, and this year we could have 7.5 million tons. However, if we lose Pokrovsk, that figure could drop to 2-3 million tons,” Kalenkov explained.

Ukraine still has the potential to produce up to 12 million tons of steel yearly, but the loss of Pokrovsk would seriously cripple the output. The Pokrovske coal mine, run by “Pokrovske Coal” (formerly Krasnoarmeyskugol), is a major producer of coking coal which plays a critical role in supplying Ukraine’s steel industry.

Kalenkov emphasized that losing access to this mine could cripple the country’s steel production.