KIEV, Oct. 2 – Ukrainian thermal power plants are falling behind on their government-mandated goal to create a coal stockpile ahead of the Oct. 15 start of the heating season, said Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko.

According to Boyko, coal stocks at Ukrainian thermal power plants and combined heat power plants have grown to 2.3 million tons, which is only 57.8% of the target (around 4 million tons) announced by Boyko during a Sept. 29 meeting with heads of oil, gas and electricity sector companies.