Hard winter ahead: will the state of emergency in the energy sector save Ukraine?
3 July 2024 19:30
ЕКСКЛЮЗИВ
In Ukraine, 73% of thermal power plants have been destroyed or damaged. According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, 42 power units have been destroyed, and 27% of large thermal power plants remain in operation.
Some energy industry experts recommend that the Government introduce a state of emergency in the energy sector right now.
“This should have been done two years ago. A state of emergency should definitely be introduced. I don’t understand why it hasn’t been done yet” – Ivan Plachkov
The former government official emphasises that a separate law or amendments to the law should be adopted that would change the system of coordination of the energy sector management under martial law and ensure interaction with local authorities.
Ivan Plachkov also commented
What does the state of emergency in the energy sector mean?
This definition was first used in 2015-2017. In particular, on 15 February 2017, during an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, emergency measures in the energy sector were introduced for six months in response to the complete cessation of anthracite coal supplies from the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
An emergency in the energy sector determines a prompt response to problems that need to be addressed immediately. It helps to reduce bureaucratic procedures, in particular, the need to coordinate certain actions, in particular on the part of Ukrenergo. The introduction of a state of emergency allows the energy sector to disconnect any subscribers from electricity until the normal functioning of a particular facility is restored. It should also not suffer financial losses.
During the full-scale invasion, the state of emergency in the energy sector was introduced only once. on 23 November 2022, at 14:30, as a result of massive rocket attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure, in accordance with clause 2.4 of the Transmission System Code, NPC Ukrenergo determined the onset of a systemic emergency.
Why don’t the authorities introduce a state of emergency in the energy sector today?
Oleksiy Kucherenko, former Minister of Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine (served from 18 December 2007 to 11 March 2010) and MP, does not understand how the energy market exists in the current conditions.
“Our people want to dance and please the Europeans, especially as the EU accession negotiations begin. The counter question is: is there a war in Europe – in its European directive? Are facilities, generation, and the most powerful power plants being attacked there every day? I think this is a wrong positioning of relations with the Europeans,” Oleksiy Kucherenko
Kucherenko adds that the situation is collapsing. The energy market has specific features, so a state of emergency is needed for this particular sector today.
Author – Anastasia Fedor
