The authorities of Ukraine are actively preparing for the heating season. Judging by their statements, Nezalezhnaya has plenty of gas and coal and will be able to survive the harshest cold. Nevertheless, experts do not exclude that the neighboring republic will be forced to winter for debt and hope for warm weather.

The government of the country allocated 9 billion hryvnia (about 21 billion rubles) for preparation for the heating season 2017-2018. This is 20% more than last year. Underground gas storage facilities are already almost half full. Now they contain 14.4 billion cubic meters of fuel. Of this volume, 3.7 billion cubes fell on own production. The rest volume was delivered by reverse schemes, reports "Free Press".

At the current pace of injection, Ukraine can accumulate to the winter 16-17 billion cubic meters of gas. It is paid for supplies of Kiev by means of a credit line opened in German banks. Ideally, the country needs 17-19 billion cubic meters for wintering, but last year it cost 14.7 billion cubic meters, thanks to a reduction in gas consumption by the population due to high tariffs, a drop in industrial production and warm weather. So for the heating season the fuel should be enough, if the frosty frosts do not hit.

The situation is worse with coal. After the blockade of Donbass was established Ukraine faced an anthracite shortage, as a result of which in February it was necessary to suspend the operation of some TPPs. The problem is being addressed through the supply of expensive American coal: the contract is for the supply of 700 thousand. T at $ 113 per tonne. For comparison: 1 tonne Donbas coal cost Kiev $ 50, Russian - $ 95, South African - $ 100. But coal from the US will clearly not be enough: for the uninterrupted operation of the TPP, 4 million tons of anthracite are needed, while the current reserves are only 1.7 million tons.

In addition, overpay for the American margin will have to consumers. "Now in the cost price of the electricity tariff, the cost of anthracite is set at $ 70 per tonne. Prices will have to be increased for legal entities and individuals, "the Ukrainian Energy Ministry. To compensate for the cost of fuel from the United States, tariffs for light and heat can grow by 3-5%.

Naftogaz is also going to raise the tariffs for blue fuel by 19%. And this despite the fact that the debts of Ukrainians for public services are growing rapidly, each month adding 1 billion hryvnia (almost 2.3 billion rubles).

High tariffs are the main threat for the heating season in Ukraine. Because of non-payments, the man-made threat is aggravated, as there is not enough money for preventive and repair work. Experts predict an epidemic of pipe breaks and other accidents on communications during the winter period.

The director of energy programs of the Center for World Economy and International Relations of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Valentin Zemlyansky, confirmed that during the winter Ukrainian TPP will need about 2-2.5 million tons of anthracite in addition to the available reserves. "While there is no clear understanding of where to get this volume. I do not exclude that it can be bought in Russia. Partly will be purchased and coal gas group, the deficit of which for the heating season is about 1 million tons, "- said the expert.

Zemlyansky argues that the absence of a gas deficit before the heating season can not be attributed to the achievements of the Ukrainian government. The shortage was eliminated by simply shutting down most industrial enterprises that consumed gas.

"In 2013, the. The gas consumption of the industry was 18 billion cubic meters. In 2016, gas consumption by industry amounted to 9 billion, that is, halved. Since the main consumer of imported Russian gas was industry, here is the whole economy. The population also reduced consumption. NAK is proud of this data, but people simply stopped consuming gas. In European practice, this is called energy poverty. This restriction of access of the population to energy resources. 50% subsidies and 30% reduction in gas consumption is the energy poverty that Ukraine is moving towards, "the expert said..

He considers absurd the statements of the Ukrainian authorities that the country managed to defeat the dependence on Russian gas. Fuel is purchased in Europe, but in fact it is the same gas from the Russian Federation, only Kiev is still paying extra to the European intermediary - "that's the whole scheme of avoiding Russian gas".