Ukraine might again experience electricity shortage - DTEK
MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The planned repairs of a number of power generating units at Ukraine's nuclear and thermal power plants, as well as an end of a flood, might cause electricity shortages, DTEK Executive Director Dmitry Sakharuk said.
"The situation in the energy system has improved due to a number of factors, but it can't be called stable, because we are planning scheduled maintenance at some nuclear and thermal power plant units soon, and the flood will end. The situation will be changing, and there might be a shortage again," Ukrainian media quoted Sakharuk as saying during a national TV marathon on Wednesday.
Among the factors behind the absence of an electricity shortage in the past four days, Sakharuk listed warmer weather, increased power generation from renewable sources, the restart of nuclear power units and the restoration of some thermal power units, a flood, and electricity imports from the European Union, which he said helped satisfy the needs of industrial companies.
"As a result, there is a balance in the energy system. This situation will continue as long as these factors are combined. Is the situation stable? No. We need to keep working to improve it," Sakharuk said.
About 75% of thermal power generation assets in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed, and specialists keep working to restore them, he said.
The situation in Odessa and the surrounding area, which were cut off from power supply due to an accident on Ukrenergo's grids on February 4, has been somewhat improved, and yet it remains complicated, he said.
"Over the past week, Ukrenergo and other energy providers, including our company, have found ways to increase the amount of electricity supplied to the Odessa area. The work is continuing. It would take several more weeks to completely stabilize the situation," he said.
The Odessa area is currently receiving electricity for up to 19 hours a day, but the condition of the local grids makes it impossible to completely satisfy the customers' demand for electricity at the moment, he said.