Ukraine's energy sector needs private investments to cover shortages - Ukrenergo head

MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax) - Investments in the construction of new power generation facilities will benefit both investors themselves and the Ukrainian energy sector, Ukrainian media quoted Ukrenergo CEO Vitaly Zaichenko as saying at an online meeting of the European Business Association Board.

During the meeting, Zaichenko briefed representatives of Ukraine's major financial and industrial groups on the current situation in the energy sector and its near-term prospects.

"A large number of power generation, transmission and distribution facilities in most Ukrainian regions were damaged," he said. The power system is now facing an acute shortage of capacity, which cannot currently be covered by existing generation and electricity imports. In these conditions, it is crucial for the Ukrainian energy sector to raise private investment for the construction of new power generation facilities.

A total of 423 MW of new generating capacity was added to the power system in 2025 as a result of Ukrenergo's special auctions, Zaichenko said.

Generating capacities used by businesses and industry today only as backup power sources in case of hourly or emergency outages should be connected to the grid, he said.

"If they operate in the electricity market, such capacities could partially cover the capacity shortage in the power system and simultaneously bring profit to their owners," Zaichenko said.

According to experts' preliminary estimates, the overall shortage of viable generating capacity in Ukraine exceeds 4 GW today.