KIEV, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government will allocate about 132 million U.S. dollars by 2019 to modernize its state-run coal mines, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Igor Nasalyk announced here Friday.
Ukraine will purchase mining equipment worth 38 million U.S. dollars by the end of this year and spend the rest of the sum on mines renovation next year, Nasalyk said during a cabinet meeting broadcast on the government's website.
The measures are aimed at boosting coal production and enhancing the country's energy security, the minister said.
Last year, Ukraine's 35 state-run coal mines produced only 5.8 million tons, 15 percent of the country's overall coal production.
The government estimates the modernization will increase the output to 8.7 million tons next year and 10 million tons in 2019.
Ukraine's mining industry was severely hit by the over three-year conflict between government troops and pro-independence insurgents in eastern Lugansk and Donetsk regions, the country's industrial heartland.
Coal output plunged two-fold since the start of the confrontations to about 40 million tons in 2016.
