Former Deputy Energy Minister Vlasenko becomes head of NEURC
2 August 2024 13:43
Former First Deputy Energy Minister Yuriy Vlasenko has been appointed chairman of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC). This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the NEURC .
“On 02 August 2024, the NEURC members elected Yuriy Vlasenko as the Regulator’s Chairman by secret ballot during a closed meeting,” the statement said.
The NEURC said that Vlasenko has more than 20 years of experience in the energy sector. He previously held various positions at the Electricity Regulatory Commission and the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities.
From May 2021 to July 2024, he served as First Deputy Minister of Energy.
It should be noted that Vlasenko was elected Chairman of the NEURC for a two-year term.
According to the law on the NEURC, the same person cannot be elected chairman for two consecutive terms.
The powers of the Chairman may be terminated early in three cases:
- in case of early termination of powers as a member of the regulator,
- upon the chairman’s resignation,
- as well as by voting at the request of at least four members of the regulator.
Prior to that, Valeriy Tarasyuk was the Head of the NEURC.
As a reminder, on 30 July, the government dismissed a number of officials responsible for the energy sector. In particular, Yuriy Vlasenko, who was the First Deputy Head of the Ministry of Energy, and Ruslan Slobodian, the Head of the State Energy Supervision Inspectorate of Ukraine, were dismissed.
The situation in the Ukrainian energy sector
on 29 March 2024, Russia resumed its attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector, carrying out the most massive shelling in the entire period of the full-scale war. In particular, DniproHES and other Ukrainian energy facilities were hit. Since then, Russia has been regularly shelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
For example, the Russians destroyed the Trypillia and Zmiiv thermal power plants, causing Centrenergo to lose 100% of its generation. Also, 5 of DTEK’s 6 thermal power plants were severely damaged.
After that, power outages started again in Ukraine, Ukrenergo introduced blackout schedules and the government raised electricity tariffs by 60% at once.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to build two new units at the Khmelnytsky N PP and has already received the approval of the relevant parliamentary committee. The Razumkov Centre has criticised these plans, but some experts believe that only traitors or scoundrels are against the construction of nuclear power plants today.
