The Energy and Coal Industry Ministry of Ukraine has agreed with DTEK Energy Holding that 60,000-70,000 tonnes of coal from state-run coalmines of the Lviv and Volyn basins will be supplied to thermal power plants (TPPs) of DTEK Zakhidenergo, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"Today the agreement on purchase of at least 60,000-70,000 tonnes of coal from coalmines in this region has been achieved," he said.

He added that in the future Lvivvuhillia could increase production to 100,000-110,000 tonnes a month, but this requires financial support from the state.

The minister said that Novovolynska Coalmine 10 being built for 27 years should be mothballed until an investor is found.

"UAH 1.5 billion is required to finish it. Now I'm working on its mothballing… Then we will look for an investors, there is no other way," he said.

Demchyshyn said that last year the state spent over UAH 160 million to maintain the coalmine and this year it is proposed that over UAH 100 million will be allocated.