Ukrenergo, regional power distribution operators restore electricity to most consumers - CEO

MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) - The Ukrenergo national energy company of Ukraine and regional power distribution system operators have managed to restore electricity as of Sunday evening to most of the 1.5 million consumers cut from the power grid on October 22, Ukrenergo CEO Vladimir Kudritsky said.

"Since yesterday, we have managed to stabilize the situation in many regions. Most consumers have been reconnected, including those 1.5 million subscribers who were disconnected yesterday," he said during a telethon on Sunday evening, according to Ukrainian media reports.

The hardest situation that day remained in the Cherkassy and Kirovograd regions, as well as several populated localities in the Khmelnitsky, Volyn and Rovno regions remained without power supply throughout the day, he said.

He noted that restoration efforts are continuing in all of these regions, and consumers are gradually being reconnected to the power grid.

Speaking about the possibility of importing electricity, the Ukrenergo head said that scenarios of its import from Europe to back the Ukrainian power system may be considered.

"We will promptly monitor the situation and look for mechanisms to attract imported electricity for balancing, if the power shortage is lingering, and we will see that imports could rectify the situation," he said.

Kudritsky again urged consumers to save electricity, especially during peak evening hours, noting that this lowers the need for forced outages.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko earlier said that 30-40% of the country's energy infrastructure had been damaged. According to his estimates, roughly half of the thermal generation capacity has been damaged, due to which Ukraine has lost 4,000 MW of its capacity.