KIEV, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian nuclear power plants have increased their energy generation due to the shortage of anthracite coal, which is needed for running thermal power stations, authorities said on Monday.
On Feb. 18, the daily production of electricity at four Ukrainian nuclear power plants has reached a 13-year-high, the state-run nuclear energy operator Energoatom said in a statement.
Separately, Energy and Coal Minister Igor Nasalyk said that the share of nuclear power in the country' s energy mix has increased from about 50 percent to 62 percent.
Ukraine has faced with an energy crisis after a group of activists has blocked the movements of trains, transporting anthracite coal from the area in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-independence insurgents to the government-controlled territory.
Last week, the government has imposed a state of emergency in the energy sector, warning that the coal shortage may lead to the rolling blackouts across the country and job cuts in the coal industry and the energy-intensive metallurgical sector.
