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Russian troops are approaching a critical metallurgical (or coking) coal mine near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. The loss of this mine could result in “serious damage to Ukraine’s economy

The coal mine is located to the west of central Pokrovsk. Kalenkov explained that the threat to the Pokrovsk mine, Ukraine’s only source of metallurgical coal, could lead to a reduction in steel production.

“We could make up to 7.5 million metric tons of steel by the end of the year and, for next year, we saw an increase in production to over 10 million,” said Kalenkov.

“But if we lose Pokrovsk, then … we will fall to 2-3 million tons.”

Anatoliy Starovoit, head of the Ukrkoks association, told reporters that Ukraine produced about 3.5 million tons of coke in 2023, relying on Pokrovsk as the only source of metallurgical coal.

“We don’t know where to get coal if Pokrovsk is seized,”

“It is difficult to bring it in by importing; today it is not so easy to bring it in by sea.”

A source in the metallurgical industry told journalists that producers hope to find alternative sources of coking coal in other regions of Ukraine if Pokrovsk is occupied. However, imports would be necessary in the meantime, increasing production costs and making Ukrainian steel less competitive.

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