KYIV, Oct 31 - The demand for gas for the operation of thermal power plants (TPP) under the pessimistic scenario of coal supply in the heating season will be about 2 billion cubic meters (bcm), Ukrenergo main dispatcher Vitaliy Zaichenko said.

"If coal supplies are not sufficient, the only option for balancing is the use of gas at our TPPs ... Under the pessimistic scenario, we estimate the need at about 2 billion cubic meters," he said.