First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with representatives of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine, during which he outlined the planned measures aimed at addressing challenges in the sector.

“Our goal is to preserve the human capital potential of the mining industry through достойне remuneration, maintaining occupational safety and pension guarantees, and supporting relevant education and training. Balancing the labour market, education, and the real economy is our shared long-term objective,” Denys Shmyhal stressed.

The Minister of Energy noted that a development plan is currently being prepared for the Eastern Mining and Processing Plant (SkhidGZK) to ensure its successful corporatization and integration into Energoatom. He emphasized that this is an important strategic step, as the enterprise is of critical importance for Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector. The development plan will include gradual salary increases, expanded production, modernization of fixed assets, and a reduction in the share of non-core assets of SkhidGZK.

Regarding the coal sector, Denys Shmyhal stated that work is underway to unblock company accounts frozen by tax authorities, settle wage arrears, preserve documentation from relocated mines, improve the efficiency of management of state-owned coal mining enterprises, and identify an effective private investor. “This is a shared task for the Ministry and the State Property Fund, and we will implement it step by step,” he noted.

The First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy thanked the trade unions for their ongoing dialogue and constructive cooperation, adding that the Ministry of Energy remains in constant contact and continues to seek solutions aimed at improving working conditions for miners.