Power consumption in Ukraine growing, shortage anticipated - Ukrenergo

MOSCOW. Jan 12 (Interfax) - Power consumption in Ukraine was growing on Friday and, as of 9:30 a.m., exceeded the level recorded at this time on Thursday by nearly 1%; the dispatch center of the national power grid operator Ukrenergo predicted a possible shortage of 2.8% in the national energy system during the day, Ukrainian media reported with reference to Ukrenergo's social media post.

Ukrenergo listed a cold spell and the connection of consumers in areas earlier cut off from power because of bad weather as the key reasons for growing electricity consumption. The company said all operating power plants would be employed to cover a possible shortage, and no schedules limiting power consumption were planned, it said.

While power generation is at its maximum now, its resources are limited, Ukrenergo said. Sunny and windy weather in the country facilitated power generation by renewable energy power plants on Friday, however, two thermal power plant units were stopped for emergency repairs, it said.

Bearing this in mind, customers have been asked to be especially prudent in using electric devices consuming a lot of energy between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and avoid employing several of them simultaneously.

Ukraine's electricity imports grew by 11%, with 5,563 MW/h of power imported from Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova on Friday afternoon and in the evening. Ukraine has not exported electricity for more than a week.

According to Ukrenergo, 409 communities across the country remained without electricity for technical and other reasons. In particular, a number of customers are cut off from power due to technical irregularities.

As reported, 229 communities in various parts of Ukraine were cut off from power because of adverse weather as of Friday morning.

Electricity consumption in Ukraine declined on Thursday, and its anticipated shortage was to reach 1% of its overall volume.