Ukrainian power grid has deficit, power outage in over 500 populated localities - Energy Ministry

MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Energy Ministry estimated a power grid deficit observed on Saturday at 1.4% of the daily consumption, Ukrainian media said, citing the ministry's statement on a social network.

Additional instruments, such as hydropower generation reserves and urgent assistance from Europe, which, according to earlier reports of the Energy Ministry and Ukrenergo, Ukraine had to request for three consecutive days, were used to compensate for the deficit.

"For now, there are no scheduled power outages and no such plans for any region. Nonetheless, it is important to reduce the power grid load during peak hours (especially between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.)," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, Ukrenergo's 330kV power transmission line switched off in the Dnepropetrovsk region and urgent maintenance began. A 150kV power transmission line's shutdown in the same region led to several hours of a blackout at households and a railroad, causing a delay of trains.

"Power supply to all clients resumed within hours. Causes of the incident are being investigated," the ministry said.

Electricity imports had been growing for the past few days and neared 5.200 MW/h on Saturday, 2.4 times more than on Friday. There have been no exports for a long time, it said.

Bad weather and other reasons disrupted power supply to 504 populated localities in Ukraine, including those in the Kharkov, Sumy and Chernigov regions, on Saturday, the ministry said.