Energy Minister: further power cuts are inevitable
31 May 2024 14:37
EXCLUSIVE
Over the past few days, power cuts have stopped in Ukraine. This coincided with reports that the government is preparing to raise tariffs for households as early as 1 June. "Komersant Ukrainian" asked former Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov whether these things are related, as there are suspicions that the government stopped the blackouts for a while in order not to further fuel emotions around tariffs and thus avoid an outburst of popular anger over this sensitive issue.
The former official is convinced that these things are completely unrelated, and that the energy sector will not manipulate the situation.
“This is due to the fact that a power unit at the nuclear power plant has been repaired, and this is a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. And the weather is currently moderate, so the power system is balanced. There is a deficit, but it is covered by imported electricity. When the power sector is balanced, it is clear that they will not cut off electricity,”
– says the expert.
Energoatom has already said that the blackouts will resume as another power unit will be put under repair on Saturday.
“Power unit repairs are a long-term process. I do not know Energoatom’s plans. It also depends on the weather: if there is no great heat, it is clear that we will be able to balance. If there is, we will not be able to. So, believe the power engineers, they are doing everything possible and impossible, they are heroes, and we should not suspect them of manipulation!”
– plachkov said.
The possibility of a possible increase in electricity tariffs was raised after the largest-scale Russian attack on the Ukrainian energy sector, with the Cabinet of Ministers not ruling out the possibility of a tariff increase. According to media reports, the tariff for consumption of up to 100 kW per month is expected to remain the same at UAH 2.64 per kWh. Households will have to pay almost twice as much for all the excess consumption – 4.8 UAH/kWh. Earlier, it was expected that the price increase would not be as significant. However, the Cabinet of Ministers has not yet made a final decision.
It is known that Centrenergo has lost 100% of its generation, and DTEK has damaged 80% of its capacity.
Ukrenergo urges Ukrainians to save electricity during peak hours.
