The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine extended the term of temporary emergency measures on the electricity market, introduced three months ago, for another month.

"We need to continue (measures), because we must make operational management decisions: we manage the system not in the normal mode, unfortunately. But we will also pass this test, who would not interfere with us, "Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman said at a government meeting today.

Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Igor Nasalik said that the introduction of emergency measures allowed to save 1.7 million tons of coal and increase its reserves in warehouses to 2.2 million tons, which corresponds to the level of inventories in the autumn of 2016 - before the start of the heating season.

Nasalik added that thanks to the measures introduced, the contribution of nuclear energy to the development of electricity in Ukraine in April reached 62.5%, and last Sunday it was set an absolute record - 68% compared with 47% in May last year.

Recall that the emergency measures in the energy sector, stipulated by the governmental decree No.

103-r of February 15, came into force on February 17 because of the blockade of supplies of goods from the ATU zone, in particular, coal from the anthracite group, which employs half of the country's energy generating companies.

Earlier, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Igor Nasalik said that Ukraine's refusal of anthracite from the Donbass would cost 15 billion UAH. He also said that Ukraine has not yet planned to import coal from Russia, but purchases are possible if its price is the lowest in the market.

Power outages due to coal deficit of the anthracite group can affect seven areas.