Temporary suspension of the transit of Russian coal through Ukraine is an initiative of the cargo division of the Slovak railway company ZSSK Cargo, the press service of Ukrzaliznytsya JSC reported.
“The initiator of the temporary ban on the transportation of coal from Russia to the Slovak station Ganiska near Kosice is the cargo division of the Slovak railway company ZSSK Cargo. The Slovak colleagues simultaneously sent a telegram with a notification of a temporary ban on such transportation to JSC Ukrzaliznytsya and JSC Russian Railways (RZD). The reason for this ban was given as a statement by U.S. Steel Kosice, without detailing its content," Ukrainian Railways said in a statement.
Ukrzaliznytsia said that they immediately complied with the requirement of Slovak colleagues, as required by international rules and signed agreements, adding that such restrictions were introduced before, when foreign colleagues limited the shipment of raw materials for the metallurgical industry, taking into account certain operational tasks.
“Reports about the imposition of restrictions on the initiative of the Ukrainian authorities do not correspond to reality. The resumption of coal supplies to the Ganiska station will take place on January 28. ZSSK Cargo sent a reply telegram on the same day. JSC Ukrzaliznytsia fully complies with all international obligations and calls not to use the operational aspects of the work of railway workers for political purposes or for disinformation campaigns,” Ukrzaliznytsia said.
Recall that from January 24, until further notice, Ukrzaliznytsia banned the transit of coal from Russia of grades K, T, G, SS, D, as well as concentrate and anthracite. The consignee in the railroad company's database is U.S. Steel Kosice. The owner of the plant since 2000 is the American concern U.S. Steel. The plant's capacity is about 4.5 million tons of steel per year. Slovakia is not a significant sales market for Russia. According to the CDU of the Fuel and Energy Complex, in 2021 Russia exported 935.8 thousand tons of coal to the country, mainly energy.
