Ukraine reports drastic plunge in coal production because of conflict, falling prices

Ukraine only produced 39.8 million metric tons of coal last year because of factors including conflict in the country's eastern regions and falling energy prices.

The coal output represented a drop f 38.8 percent from that of 2014, according to statistics released Tuesday by the country's Coal and Energy Ministry.

Data also showed that the production of coking coal fell 49.8 percent to 8.2 million tons in 2015, while the thermal coal output was down 35.3 percent to 31.6 million tons.

The 21-month-old conflict between government troops and pro-independence insurgents in Lugansk and Donetsk regions, the country's mining heartland, and falling energy prices, along with weaker demand in the global market, were blamed for the country's sustained bleak situation in coal industry.

Ukraine produced about 65 million tons of coal in 2014, down 22 percent from the year before.