Metinvest, Ukraine’s largest steel producer, announced on January 14 that it has suspended operations at the Pokrovsk coking coal mine in Donetsk Oblast due to escalating security threats and power outages.
The mine, located 10 kilometers west of Pokrovsk, is one of the largest in Eastern Europe and Ukraine’s only producer of coking coal, a vital material for steel production. Steel is Ukraine’s second-largest export after agriculture.
While the mine remains under Ukrainian control, Metinvest is evacuating its employees and their families to ensure their safety.
Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov stated, “The suspension of operations is a necessary step to protect lives in these difficult times. We are confident in Ukraine’s victory and are ready to restart operations and rebuild Pokrovsk once the Russian invasion is defeated.”
To maintain steel production at its plants in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, Metinvest has prepared a contingency plan. This includes sourcing coking coal from the U.S.-based United Coal Company, utilizing stockpiles, and obtaining supplies from other vendors.
Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub for Ukrainian forces, has become a major battleground as Russia intensifies its offensive in Donetsk Oblast.
Steel exports generated nearly $2 billion in the first eight months of 2024, with production expected to reach 7.5 million metric tons by the end of the year. However, the suspension of operations at Pokrovsk threatens these plans. If the mine’s loss persists, annual production could fall to just 2-3 million tons, according to Reuters.
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