Nearly 140 localities in 6 Ukrainian regions without electricity due to bad weather
MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - As many as 137 towns and villages in the Kiev, Zhitomir, Volyn, Chernovtsy, Khmelnitsky, and Ternopol regions are facing power outages after distribution system operators' networks were damaged as a result of bad weather, Ukrainian media said, citing the Ukrenergo power grid operator.
Repair teams are continuing to tackle the aftermath of adverse weather conditions, Ukrenergo said on social media.
As regards the general situation, consumption is currently at the level of an ordinary working day, there is no capacity deficit in the energy system and it is not expected for now, it said.
All types of power plants are functioning in the energy system, and electricity has been imported in small amounts for several days in a row due to the stabilization of power supply in the country, the company said.
"No consumption limits have been introduced in the regions because there is no capacity deficit in the energy system. However, power outages may be used if the situation in the energy system changes and if there is a steep growth of consumption," Ukrenergo said.
However, transmission constraints persist because of the damage sustained by equipment at Ukrenergo's electrical substations in Odessa and the Odessa region, a circumstance which, according to the grid operator, makes it necessary to resort to hourly blackout schedules to avoid the overloads in the currently functioning equipment.
"Ukrenergo brigades are continuing repairs to end the transmission constraints for Odessa and the Odessa region. Restoring reliable energy equipment is taking more time due to the complexity and scope of damage," it said.
A number of grid operators said on Tuesday evening that no electricity consumption limits will be introduced for Wednesday, which means that they will be absent for the 11th day in a row. Meanwhile, emergency power outages due to strong winds and rain were reported in the Lvov, Ivano-Frankovsk, Kiev, Volyn, Chernovtsy, Rovno, Khmelnitsky, and Odessa regions throughout Tuesday.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, for his part, said, according to Ukrainian media, that the completion of repairs at several units of thermal power plants will help ensure a sufficient capacity margin to cover the growing electricity needs of industrial enterprises.
The current amount of power generation is fully covering consumers' needs even despite an increase in electricity consumption, Galushchenko said.
Repairs on power lines damaged by strong winds are expected to be completed in several districts of the Khmelnitsky, Zhitomir and Kiev regions within the next 24 hours, the Energy Ministry said.