Ukrenergo, ENTSO-E increase possible amount of Ukraine's electricity import by 200 MW

MOSCOW. April 19 (Interfax) - The Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator of Ukraine and ENTSO-E have increased the technical capacity for electricity import from continental Europe to the Ukraine/Moldova area by 200 MW, or 23.5%, to 1,050 MW.

"The increased technical capacity for commercial exchange takes into account the launch of a new interconnector between Ukraine and Poland due in early May 2023," the Ukrainian media said with a reference to the company statement on a social network.

Transmission system operators made the decision at a plenary meeting of the regional group of continental Europe on April 18, 2023, Ukrenergo said.

"For the next few weeks, the ENTSO-E European Network of Transmission System Operators will assess power grids' performance and the possibility of further enlargement of the capacity for electricity transmission between continental Europe and Ukraine-Moldova both ways," it said.

According to Ukrenergo, ENTSO-E's decision to gradually expand capacity for electricity export and import was made on June 7, 2022, less than three months after synchronization of the Ukrainian and European power grids. The available capacity of transmission to and from the European power grid amounted to 100 MW on June 30 and eventually grew to 850 MW.

Electricity import from Slovakia reached 2,660 MWh on April 1-17 (according to Energoreforma estimates based on information from the ENTSO-E website). There has been no import from Moldova since April 7.

The Ukrainian Energy Ministry resumed electricity export, suspended on October 11, 2022, on April 7, 2023.

The maximum capacity for electricity export to Europe allowed by ENTSO-E is 400 MW. Ukrenergo is working on the possible enlargement of this amount together with European colleagues.