29 Mar 2023 12:25

Ukrhydroenergo CEO speaks in favor of resuming electricity export to Europe

MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax) - A surplus of electricity in Ukraine, which currently exists and is forecasted in the coming months, makes the resumption of electricity exports to Europe expedient, yet the matter is quite politicized, Ukrhydroenergo CEO Igor Sirota said.

"The Ukrainian power grid has seen three weeks of round-the-clock surplus [...] Whenever a surplus exists, it should be sold and generate profit. Why don't we earn several tens of millions of hryvni, which can be spent, for instance, on special tariffs for the population? Not to ask, not to search for, but to earn," Sirota said in an interview with the Ukrainian media.

"The chance for unblocking exports is more than realistic," Sirota said, adding that the issue remained politicized, in particular, because certain Ukrainian consumers still had no power supply.

He explained that those consumers had no power supply because of major restrictions on damaged networks rather than a deficit of capacity.

"We should tell people that we have a surplus of electricity, which can be sold to make money and repair the power grid. Ukraine would simply limit the export flow in case of a deficit, if there are not enough resources for domestic consumers," he said.

Ukrhydroenergo and Energoatom, which are the main providers of special electricity tariffs for the population, are unable to bear the burden of special tariffs while repairing their facilities at the same time, Sirota said.

The Ukrainian Energy Ministry stopped electricity exports on October 11, after the Ukrainian power grid was damaged.