Ukrenergo not ruling out new emergency power cuts in Ukraine if consumption grows

MOSCOW. May 15 (Interfax) - Emergency power cuts may again be introduced for industrial consumers and households in Ukraine if electricity consumption grows during peak hours from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Ukrainian media outlets said, citing a statement published by the Ukrenergo power grid operator on social media on Wednesday.

At the same time, the power supply reduction schedules for industrial enterprises, initially due to last throughout Wednesday, have been shortened and are now in effect from midnight to 10:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.

According to Ukrenergo, there is a considerable power shortage throughout the day due to today's drop in air temperatures. Emergency assistance from European Union countries was used to cover it from midnight to 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Ukraine also expects to import an all-time high of 23,692 MWh of electricity from Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Moldova on Wednesday versus 21,070 MWh on Tuesday. Maximum capacity reaches 1,628 MW in certain hours, nearing the 1,700 MWh technical capacity for electricity imports by Ukraine and Moldova from Europe, it said.

Ukrenergo has called on consumers to use electricity sparingly throughout the day, especially in peak hours from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the company's press service told journalists.

YASNO electricity supplier CEO Sergei Kovalenko, in turn, said on social media that it is wrong to make businesses bear the brunt of the power shortages, because it is highly important to enable enterprises to continue to function and produce GDP.

A total of 418 populated localities across Ukraine remained without electricity for various reasons on Wednesday morning, Ukrenergo said.

As reported, Ukrenergo introduced emergency power cuts for industrial consumers and households on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday morning due to electricity shortages after power consumption grew following a drop in air temperatures. Almost day-to-day supply reduction schedules have been in effect for industrial enterprises since May 8. Power shortages have been covered by imports and daily lengthy emergency assistance from neighboring countries.