OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2011. In Ukraine in the near future the process of privatizing state-owned mining enterprises will not be activated.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry Volodymyr Makuha said this on Tuesday during the hot telephone line.

"While we haven’t whatever action on the privatization" - said Volodymyr Makuha.

He also said that the Ministry has developed and on Wednesday 11 May submit to the Government the draft law of Ukraine on optimization of all matters related to transfer state-owned mines for rent. "This draft law enable us to effectively address issues related to privatization of mines", - the Deputy Minister noted.

Recall that the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine in 2011 is going to start the privatization of coal mining enterprises (pilot projects) with the State Property Fund of Ukraine.

According to experts of the European Union for the support of the coal sector in Ukraine, in 2011 Ukraine may sell 6-10 pilot projects for privatization of coal mines.

EU experts, who worked in Ukraine, concluded that by 2015 the country should not have any state-owned mines. Then to 2020 year, the volume of coal production in Ukraine will increase according to various estimates from 14 to 35%.

According to the EU, commercial coal reserves in Ukraine are 37.6 billion tons, including 19.7 billion tons of the gas group.

Mining enterprises of Ukraine in 2010 increased coal production by 4.1% compared with 2009 - to 75.231 million tons. In particular production of coking coal fell by 6.2% and amounted to 24.182 million tons; of energy coal - rose by 9.9% to 51.049 million tons. Figures of enterprises under the Ministry declined more significantly than the industry as a whole. Production rose by 0,2% - to 38.45 million tons. Coking coal produced less by 17,8% - 7.458 million tones, and energy coal by 5,8% - 30.995 million tons.

Mining enterprises of Ukraine in 2009 decreased coal production by 7% compared with 2008 to 72.219 million tons.