Energy ministry permits DTEK to use additional 150 MW to export electricity in Jan 2013
KYIV. Jan 9 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry has permitted the largest private energy holding of Ukraine - DTEK - to use additional 150 MW to export electricity to European countries in January 2013, reads a posting on the Web site of Ukrenergo.
The report says that the permit was signed by the ministry on December 28, 2012.
Thus, Ukrenergo said that 645 MW of electricity for export to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, 235 MW to Poland, 300 MW to Moldova and 500 MW to Belarus in January 2013 was sold. 3,150 MW of electricity for export to Russia and another 400 MW of electricity to export to Belarus and 150 MW to Moldova in January have not been sold.
From February 2013, additional 150 MW will be put up for monthly auctions conducted by Ukrenergo.
As reported, Ukrenergo on December 20, 2012 signed a supplement to the agreement with the Poland's PSE Operator to boost the power export capacity from the Burshtyn Island to 650 MW from January 1 to December 31, 2013.
The increase in the export capacity from the Burshtyn Island from January 1, 2013 was possible thanks to the upgrade of equipment and relay protection of the power lines of Burshtyn thermal power plant and thanks to the signing of agreements on the emergency backup of the agreed exports volumes with systemic operators of the Continental Europe group of the adjoining power grids.
Earlier the power export potential of the Burshtyn Island, which was synchronized with the European Union's power grid and with UCTE (ENTSO-E) in the summer period (from April 1 to September 30 inclusively) stood at 550 MW and in the winter period (from October 1 to March 31 inclusively) it totaled 500 MW.
Zakhidenergo in 2007-2010 conducted the first phase of reconstruction of the outdoor switch-gears of the Burshtyn thermal power plant, which boosted its capacity to 600-650 MW. However, despite the fact that the reconstruction increased the potential possibility to have the said capacity, in facy it could not be utilized in full due to the realization of a program on the construction of energy equipment at the plant.
The operation of Burshtyn thermal power plant from July 2002 was synchronized with the European power grid. Burshtyn thermal power plant partially supplies electricity to three regions in western Ukraine (Zakarpattia, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk) and exports electricity (to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania).
Ukrainian electricity is exported to Poland from Dobrotvirska thermal power plant to Zamosc (Poland).
Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 55.9% in January-November 2012 year-over-year, to 8.947 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh).
The main exporter of Ukrainian electricity since 2011 has been DTEK energy holding company (Skhidenergo and DTEK Power Trade), which exported 5.09 billion kilowatt-hours in 2011.
At the annual auction for access to Ukrainian power grid to export electricity conducted by Ukrenergo DTEK bought lots of 1.58 gigawatts of electricity for export to Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Poland and Belarus from January 1 to December 31, 2013 without competition.
DTEK buys electricity on the wholesale market under government's decisions to export it at the wholesale market price, not taking into account subsidy certificates.