Trunk transmission lines prepared for supplying winter volumes of electricity throughout Ukraine - Ukrenergo

MOSCOW. Oct 21 (Interfax) - Ukraine's trunk transmission lines are currently prepared for supplying winter volumes of electricity, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Ukrenergo power grid operator as saying.

As part of preparing the energy infrastructure for winter, Ukrenergo's repair teams have performed various types of scheduled repairs to replace equipment and cables on more than 10,000 kilometers of power transmission lines, the statement said.

On average, one team of five to seven technicians maintains up to 20 trunk transmission lines covering 700 kilometers. Power engineers travel up to 300 kilometers in the daytime to carry out diagnostics and draw up a work plan. A route for heavy equipment will be worked out then. Removal of sagging insulation, which weighs at least 150 kilograms, is also a separate type of repairs.

The timely replacement of high-voltage transmission line supports is one of the crucial stages in preparing Ukrenergo grids for winter, when overhead lines are exposed to icing and snow build-up.

"The overhead lines of this voltage level are the trunk 'arteries' of the power grid, through which electricity is being transmitted from the power plants all over the country," it said.