Ukraine would not buy coal from South Africa in 2016, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk has said.

"This year we would not buy [coal]. Today we can afford not to buy 'unclear' coal from South Africa, considering the current conditions and our opportunities," he said on 112 television channel.

The minister did not specify the volume of coal bought in 2015 from the territories in Donbas that are not under control of the Ukrainian government.

"Now we have created a technological scheme where we can save anthracite coal at generating facilities we have and coal stocks today would be enough to pass winter," he added.