Ukraine's energy system could collapse due to weather anomalies, which led to incredible heat. The authorities in Kiev are trying to negotiate with the European Union to remove restrictions on the import of electricity, reports the newspaper The New York Times.
As the publication points out, 40-degree heat has settled in most of Ukraine, which has led to a significant increase in energy consumption and overloading of the electrical grid due to the use of air conditioners and cooling units. It is noted that the authorities in Kyiv, in connection with the current situation, are implementing permanent blackouts throughout the country, and are also negotiating with the leadership of the European Union to remove restrictions on the import of electricity, which are about 1.7 GW. In addition, Ukraine requires Western countries to provide spare parts left in the old power plants.
Massive power outages “are a harbinger of what to expect in winter”, as Ukraine likely won't have time to restore damaged power plants before winter sets in.
Ukrainian officials have also floated the idea of installing hundreds of gas turbines across the country to expand the energy system, but that idea is too difficult to implement. “The idea is great on paper, but difficult to implement,” Roman Vibranovsky, co-founder of the think tank Ukraine Facility Platform, quotes the publication. “Turbines are not a ready solution.“
As the Minister of Energy German Galushchenko announced, Ukraine has recently lost a huge amount of energy. In turn, Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, specified that the Kanevskaya HPP, the Dnipro HPP and the Zmiivskaya TPP were damaged. The Ministry of Energy announced the complete destruction of the Tripol TPP, the largest power generation facility in the Kyiv region. According to Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, more than half of Ukraine's entire energy system is damaged. Citizens are regularly urged to save energy.