EU Russian coal ban kicks in

The coal port of Rosterminalugol in Russia.

As of 10 August, the European Union placed a total embargo on all coal imports from Russia. This formed part of an earlier sanctions package first announced in April. The delay is explained by a buffer period, in which European countries could either negotiate with new coal source providers or increase their own domestic production. Alternatively, they could also use the time to bring forward plans to use alternative energy generators, such as renewables.

The EU had relied heavily on Russian thermal coal, which accounted for 70% of thermal coal imports for electricity production. Poland and Germany were significantly locked into this source of supply. With Europe also switching away from Russian gas to generate electricity, EU countries were also expected to import more thermal coal to replace this.

Australia, Colombia and the United States are all now exporting more coal to Europe than previously.

In June, for example, countries in Europe imported 7.9mt (million tonnes) of thermal coal, which was at least double the same amount in June 2021. Despite this, overall reliance on coal is diminishing since this figure was 2mt less than in both April and May.

Colombia is particularly benefiting, exporting 1.2mt to Europe in June, which compares with around 287,000 tonnes in the same month in the previous year. However, Australian thermal coal imports of 1.1mt in June are its most ever, despite the long distance involved. The United States also reports that its coal exports to Europe were up 28% in June.

This trend is expected to continue as EU countries continue to retain sanctions against Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine. Indeed, with Russian oil imports due to be phased out in the longer term, more coal will be needed to replace them. Maritime oil imports from Russia will cease in their entirety in December and petroleum products in February 2023. In the meantime, pipeline imports remain unchanged. Barry Cross

Strike action from Ukrainian coal miners

Workers at a state-owned coal mine in Ukraine have decided to strike, despite martial law and a ban on all protests.

Striking workers at Mine No. 9 in Novovolynsk, who include miners as well as management, voted to strike over what they say is an attempt to seize control of the mine.

Long-standing corruption is cited as the reason for the strike, with the miners recently prevening a new director from taking over because of his links to embezzlement at another mine.

Workers believe that the director was appointed by the local ‘smotriashchiy’ — corrupt unofficial overseers of Ukrainian coal mining. The miners have gone on strike to protect their jobs and working conditions.

Early in Volodymyr Zelensky's admin istrat ion, the Ukrainian president vowed to stamp out corruption in the coal sector. Workers at Mine No. 9 link recent appointments to the possible return of corrupt practices. The strike is not the only protest in the western Ukrainian coal fields since Russia’s invasion.