Coal shortage presents difficult choice for Ukraine

Kiev

WITH the rich seams of coal in eastern Ukraine under rebel control and Russia cutting off supplies, the Kiev government faces the awkward prospect of turning to its enemies for help.

As winter set in, the biggest fear in recent months was that Ukraine would run out of the natural gas that heats the country.

A last-minute deal with Russia averted that disaster. But now a new one is looming as coal shortages threaten to leave the country desperately short of electricity.

Ukraine gets some 40 per cent of its power from coal-fired plants, and has traditionally had a surplus of coal, producing some 86 million tonn…