KIEV, Feb. 20 ??“ Bulgaria is interested in increasing supplies of power coal from Ukraine, the Coal Industry Ministry reported, citing a meeting of Coal Industry Minister Serhiy Tulub and Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov.

The Bulgarian minister said his country's demand for power coal import in 2006 was 2.3 million tons, which is needed to fuel its thermal power plants. At the same time, due to a halting of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant and the increase in the burden on thermal plants, Bulgaria's demand for power coal imports will grow to 4 million tons annually.