Ukraine minister pleads for energy saving, gas stocks drop

A gas gauge and pipes are pictured at Wiener Netze (Viennese Energy Supply Company), Vienna's gas distribution node, in the Erdberg district of Vienna September 19, 2014. REUTERS/ Leonhard Foeger

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's new energy minister pleaded with industrial and domestic consumers to use less electricity as hard frosts led to a sharp drop in gas stocks and low coal stockpiles, making more blackouts likely.

Volodymyr Demchyshyn on Thursday asked for a reduction in evening electricity consumption by 15 percent.