7 Jun 2023 12:03

Ukrainian Energy Ministry calls for increasing electricity imports after Kakhovka HPP incident

MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Energy Ministry has asked the European Union to increase the capacity for electricity imports by Ukraine to 2 GW in the wake of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant incident, the Ukrainian media quoted Energy Minister German Galushchenko as saying in a statement published by the ministry on Tuesday evening.

"In this light, we are counting on support from partners and higher capacity for increasing electricity imports to 2 GW," the minister said at an urgent meeting of the Ukrainian Energy Ministry's High-Level International Energy Advisory Council, which addressed the Kakhovka HPP situation.

The plant did not supply electricity to the grid, however, the incident disrupted the integrity of the entire hydropower complex. Accordingly, there is a risk that hydropower plants, which balanced the Ukrainian energy system, will not be able to operate at the required capacity, Galushchenko said.

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said at the meeting that Europe was ready to support Ukraine's request for larger electricity imports.

The need to restore energy facilities ruined by the incident and the flood was a separate item on the agenda, the ministry said.

"This is a matter of grids, generating facilities, and power transmission lines. That would require colossal resources, and Ukraine will count on support from its partners in such matters," it said.

European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Croatian Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Davor Filipovic, Dutch Climate and Energy Policy Minister Rob Jetten, Romanian Energy Minister Virgil-Daniel Popescu, French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher, other representatives of G7 members and heads of international organizations took part in the urgent meeting of the Ukrainian Energy Ministry's High-Level International Energy Advisory Council.

For now, the capacity for electricity imports by Ukraine and Moldova from continental Europe is limited to 1,400 MW.

The allowed capacity for electricity exports to Europe stands at 600 MW.