Energy Company of Ukraine has doubled electricity imports since mid-March

MOSCOW. April 12 (Interfax) - JSC Energy Company of Ukraine (ECU), the state energy trader, has doubled on average the daily volume of electricity imports from the European Union since mid-March 2024 in order to offset losses in the energy system, Ukrainian media reported, citing the company's statement.

"ECU continues to import electricity from Slovakia and Romania, and also began receiving electricity from Hungary in March," the company said.

ECU is currently the second largest importer of electricity to Ukraine.

"Ukraine jointly with the EU over the past two years has significantly increased the technical and organizational capabilities for importing electricity, which currently plays an important role in stable energy supplies to consumers," ECU CEO Vitaly Butenko said in the statement.

Butenko also said that the Ukrainian government is currently continuing active collaboration with European partners in order to obtain additional possibilities for importing electricity.

As reported, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, ENTSO-E, as of December 1, 2023, has increased the permitted capacity to export electricity from Europe for import to Ukraine and Moldova from 1200 MW to 1700 MW. Capacity for export from Ukraine and Moldova to Europe, to the ENTSO-E zone, is 550 MW as of March 1, 2024.

Ukrenergo CEO Vladimir Kudritsky said that Ukraine was selling electricity to all neighboring countries as at the end of February, namely to Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Moldova. Meantime, export volumes have gradually increased since mid-February, while imports have decreased.