KYIV, Oct 3 – The Energy and Coal Industry Ministry seeks to boost the rate of coal production by 40-50% late 2017 or early 2018, Minister Ihor Nasalyk said at a phone meeting in Kyiv on Monday.

"The government decided to provide guarantees of over UAH 1 billion for the mining sector… We plan to boost coal production at the end of this year and at the beginning of next year by 40-50%," he said.