Power consumption in Kiev restricted by one-third - YASNO power supply company CEO

MOSCOW. Dec 13 (Interfax) - Power consumption restrictions in Kiev remain substantial and may reach one-third of the required consumption level, with nearly 40% of all available electricity used to feed critical infrastructure, Sergei Kovalenko, CEO of the YASNO power supply company, said on Monday evening.

"Restrictions remain substantial, over one-third of consumption. And nearly 40% of the available amount is earmarked for critical infrastructure," Kovalenko wrote on his social account, as cited by Ukrainian media.

As reported earlier with reference to Kovalenko, actual power supply in Kiev covered about 70% of households' needs on December 7, which was 7% more than the day before. Power consumption in Kiev in peacetime amounted to about 1,500 MW.

At the same time, Kiev has been functioning with new outage schedules tested by DTEK Kiev Grids in the past three days, Kovalenko said.

The situation in Odessa in terms of power supply is also problematic. Ukrainian media have reported with reference to DTEK's social media posts on Tuesday that "power supply to all households was resumed as of December 12."

"However, emergency outages are still being applied. We are trying to provide every resident with electricity at least for several hours, but this is very difficult," it said.

In addition, the situation in the city of Odessa and the region has been complicated by power supply cuts due to grid overloads.

"Currently, 206 repair crews are working round-the-clock in the city and the region to respond to accidents. Priority is given to areas where there are more customers or where there has been no electricity supply for more than 24 hours," it said.

Meanwhile, the ninth 1,000-MW nuclear power unit of the Ukrainian national nuclear power plant operator Energoatom was hooked to the grid following repairs at 1:09 a.m. on Tuesday, Ukrainian media reported with reference to the Energy Ministry website. The unit had been disconnected from the grid for repairs on November 23.

"This is yet another step toward the power grid's stability. All the nine units of nuclear power plants located in Ukrainian-controlled territory are operating to satisfy the needs of the country's population and economy," Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.

Said power unit's generating capacity was being increased as of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the ministry said.