OREANDA-NEWS. August 30, 2012. Gas needed for industry and thermal power will be produced from coal. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said this at a meeting of the Cabinet.

PM noted that a Protocol on cooperation with the State Development Bank of China to open a special credit line and attracting credit resources under state guarantee for a total of more than three and a half billion dollars for projects of coal gasification has recently been signed.

"That is gas needed for the gas industry and thermal power will be produced from coal, - Mykola Azarov said. - At the same time outdated heating units we will replace with high-tech, which burns coal extremely efficiently and without harm to the environment".

As a result of only the first five projects under this agreement in the next few years is expected to fundamental strengthening energy security, further reducing imports of natural gas by more than 3 billion cubic meters per year on average, savings of up to 1 billion 200 million U.S. dollars and 150 million UAH budget expenditures as reduced reimbursement for gas for thermal energy to the public. Also expected to provide a stable market for domestic coal enterprises of up to 10 million tons of raw coal per year, other than that - to the creation of 15,000 new jobs and retaining those jobs that exist in the coal mines and thermal power facilities.