Drop in air temperatures could cause electricity shortage in Ukraine - Ukrenergo

MOSCOW. Dec 5 (Interfax) - A gradual decline in air temperatures in Ukraine during the week, as anticipated by the local meteorological service, and an increase in electricity consumption due to it could lead to power shortages in the grid, Ukrainian media outlets said, citing information circulated by the Ukrenergo power grid operator on social media.

Ukrenergo's power system control center has not over the past 24 hours recorded any deficit in the grid or the introduction the consumption caps, but the situation in the energy system remains challenging.

"Therefore, in order to maintain a balance between production and consumption in the energy system, it is necessary to use electricity economically," Ukrenergo said.

A central heating plant in the south of Ukraine halted operations in the morning due to damage, the company said. Five units at thermal power plants (TPP) in different regions of Ukraine were shut down for emergency repairs for various reasons over the past day.

Meanwhile, solar farms are unable to operate at maximum capacity because of dense clouds over the entire territory of the country.

At the same time, power supply has been restored to all consumers in the Odessa region de-energized on November 25-26 due to severe weather, Ukrenergo said.

The spell of adverse weather also damaged the distribution system's network in the western part of the country. A total of 145 communities in the Zhitomir, Lvov, Sumy and Chernigov regions remained without electricity on Monday morning due to bad weather.

A total of 420 towns and villages remain without electricity for other reasons.

Ukraine did not export electricity on Monday, but imported 82 MWh of electricity from Slovakia and Romania during one hour in the evening, Ukrenergo said.

It was reported earlier, citing the ENTSO-E website, that Ukraine imported 62 MWh of electricity of Slovakia on December 4.

The technical capacity to import electricity from Europe to Ukraine and Moldova has been 1,700 MWh since December 1.

Two TPP units and two facilities were shut down for brief maintenance, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said. To replace them, one backup TPP unit was reconnected to the grid, and another two TPP facilities will be reconnected to the grid in the course of the day.