(Adds grant for Naftogaz)
KYIV, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine has sufficient gas
reserves to see it through the winter with 11 billion cubic
metres (bcm) in storage as of Feb. 1, the energy minister said
on Wednesday.
The country also has about 1.2 million tonnes of coal for
its power plants, German Galushchenko said in a statement.
"These are sufficient volumes to get through and complete
this very difficult heating season for our country," the
minister said.
Ukrainian oil and gas company Naftogaz oil said in a
separate statement that it would receive about 200 million euros
($218 million) of "non-repayable grant" from the Norwegian
government to buy gas.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal last month said the situation
in the energy sector remained difficult but under control after
a months-long Russian campaign of drone and missile strikes on
critical infrastructure that damaged about 40% of Ukraine's
energy system.
($1 = 0.9172 euros)
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk
Editing by Jason Neely and David Goodman
)
pavel.polityuk.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
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