Serious shortage persists in Ukraine's energy system - Ukrenergo

MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax) - The shortage in Ukraine's energy system is almost the same as it was on Thursday, which means that itr remains serious, Ukrainian media said, citing the Ukrenergo power grid operator.

At the same time, no overruns of the power consumption limits imposed in the regions were recorded on Friday morning, and today there were no emergency blackouts, which have not been introduced for several days already, Ukrenergo said on social media.

Two generating units at thermal power plants were reconnected to the grid and one was shut down for emergency maintenance on Friday, it said.

Ukrenergo teams have also repaired key equipment at several electronic substations in the east and the south of Ukraine.

Transmission limits persist only in the Odessa region.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Energy Ministry said on social media that the capacity deficit during evening peak hours on Friday is expected to decline by a further 1.5% to around 17.5% (as compared to 19% on Thursday, 21% on Wednesday, and 25% on Tuesday).

"Thanks to the measures that have been taken, as well as to the weather conditions, the power supply situation continues to improve on Friday. The power capacity deficit is expected to stand at around 17.5% of overall consumption during evening peak hours," the ministry said.

Due to the power shortage, the largest number of disconnected consumers is in the Kirovograd, Volyn and Vinnitsa regions (on Thursday, this list included the Volyn, Ternopol, Kirovograd, and Chernovtsy regions), it said.

Ukrenergo said on February 2 that the energy system's generation capacity was sufficient to cover some 80% of Ukraine's electricity needs.