Ukraine to purchase thermal coal from Pennsylvania-based energy company

The Government of Ukraine announced Monday that the country’s state-owned power generation company, Centrenergo PJSC, would purchase thermal coal from the Pennsylvania-based Xcoal Energy and Resources ahead of this upcoming winter.

Ukraine is seeking to diversify its energy supply, which has in the past been negatively affected by the instability of governments that they rely on for energy. Xcoal won the thermal coal contract, which helps Ukraine realize this goal. Various U.S. government offices, including the Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce, helped to secure the deal.

“In recent years, Kiev and much of Eastern Europe have been reliant on and beholden to Russia to keep the heat on,” Energy Secretary Rick Perry said. “That changes now. The United States can offer Ukraine an alternative, and today we are pleased to announce that we will. U.S. coal will be a secure and reliable energy source for Centrenergo and its electricity customers.”

Xcoal expects its coal shipments to arrive in Ukraine in late August or early September.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal exports increased by nearly 60 percent this year.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, I look forward to working with Secretary Perry and others in industry and government to further expand American exports in support of our goals of keeping this country safe and promoting robust economic growth,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said.