According to Bloomberg, the young Ukraine government agreed to buy 1 million tonnes from South Africa with the first batch being loaded in a port on Wednesday.

“Coal output declined since the main coal mining areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions were paralysed by armed conflict between government forces and separatists,” the newswire reported.

“Power distributors warned consumers of possible electricity cuts in peak hours in winter due to fuel shortages.”

Militants in the Donetsk and Luhansk region were also alleged to have stolen 15,000 tonnes of coal from mines according to Ukraine military spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

Meanwhile, US coal company representatives have reportedly presented proposals to export coal to the country at a meeting between Ukrainian and US officials on Tuesday.

“Ukraine is also looking to Australia and New Zealand for possible coal supplies,”Bloomberg reported.

Ceasefire talks have also been held between the rival forces in Ukraine.

Analysts are speculating that growing public pressure could force Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to seek a truce, according to Associated Press.

“Russia, too, could benefit from a pause in the fighting that would allow the separatists to solidify their hold on newly seized territory,” the newswire reported.

“However, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be holding out for a humiliating concession of defeat by Kiev.”