Ukraine reduced coal production approximately 9.3 percent, or by 3.7 million tonnes, to 35.9 million tonnes in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period of 2008, the Coal Ministry told Interfax.

Of which, coking coal production slid 11.9 percent to 12.6 million tonnes, while thermal coal output decreased 7.8 percent to 23.3 million tonnes.

However, the country still target to raise 15.5 percent of the nation¡¯

s total coal production by the end of this year.

In 2008, the country produced 77.8 million tonnes raw coal, representing a growth of 3 percent year on year.

As a result of the shrunk demand, Ukraine¡¯s sate-owned coal mines may reduce the coal output as much as 7.2 percent to 42.7 million tonnes in this year.

Its state-owned coal enterprises cut its production about 19.4 million tonnes in the first half of this year, dropping 15.6 percent year on year.

Ukraine is one of Europe¡¯s largest energy consumers, and it consumes over twice as much energy per unit of GDP than Germany.