Ukrainian energy minister calls for switching off spare outdoor lighting, ads to save electricity

MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denis Shmygal has urged businesses to reduce power consumption to save it for households, Ukrainian media reported.

"I specifically appeal to businesses to turn off signboards, screens, and lighting. If you have spare electricity, give it to the people. This will be your contribution to the power grid's stability," media quoted Shmygal as saying at a hearing at the Verkhovna Rada on Friday.

The most difficult electricity situation is currently in the city of Kiev and the Kiev region, and there are also problems in the Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, and Kharkov regions, as well as all areas close to the frontline, he said.

"The situation is very difficult. In some cities and regions, preparations for the winter were messed up. Over the past two days in office, I've seen that many things are clearly stalling," Shmygal said.

Ukraine needs to install 2.2 to 2.7 GW of power generation capacity in 2026 to cover the consumption of communities and regions, he said.

Ukraine has commissioned over 250 MW of cogeneration capacity, and some 200 MW more are at various stages of commissioning, Shmygal said. Modular boiler houses with aggregate capacity of 187 MW have also been installed, he said.

Ukraine and its international partners are working to implement some 42 energy support projects worth around $1 billion, he said.

"We're working together with our international partners to secure additional humanitarian and technical support, primarily high-power generators, power storage devices, batteries, transformers, and repair equipment," Shmygal said.

"We're implementing 42 joint medium- and long-term technical assistance projects," he said.