The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine is continuing with efforts to further integrate its electricity grid with neighbouring nations of the European Union and is working with the European Commission to increase the maximum throughput of electricity imports from the EU.
“It is extremely important that the maximum carrying capacity is increased before the onset of cold weather and the increase of consumption,” said Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko. “This is our joint position with our European partners, and we are working together to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”
The minister said that consultations and technical negotiations with ENTSO-E operators are currently ongoing and have the active support of the European Commission. ENTSO-E is the European Network of Transmission System Operators and represents 40 electricity transmission system operators from 36 countries across Europe, including beyond EU borders.
In light of ongoing Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine and the loss of almost half of the nation’s generating capacity, the European Commission has said it is ready to increase its contribution to rebuilding damaged facilities, help with the establishment of a backup power supply, and the development of distributed generation.
European officials said that active work is underway with ENTSO-E to increase the maximum capacity of European electricity imports to Ukraine and that these efforts should be intensified as the winter period approaches.
Increasing the possibility of importing electricity from the EU will allow Ukraine to partially cover the power deficit in the autumn-winter period, officials said.
The Ukrainian government also said that joint projects were discussed when Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Matteo Patrone met in Kyiv today.
“The EBRD is one of our main partners and a reliable investor,” said Prime Minister Shmyhal after the meeting. “Increased investments in Ukraine have reached more than 4.5 billion euros since February 2022,” the PM said, adding that he expects EBRD funding for infrastructure, energy and reconstruction to increase further.
At the same time, Ukraine and France are deepening cooperation on electricity, nuclear energy and renewables, as well as in other areas relating to the recovery and modernisation of the energy system.
Minister Galushchenko met with a French delegation led by the special representative of the President of the French Republic Pierre Elbron to discuss specific projects for the restoration of the energy sector.
“We have been discussing the implementation of many energy projects for a long time and we receive significant support from France,” said Minister Galushchenko. “This applies both to the supply of the necessary equipment and to short-term and long-term projects that help us prepare for the next heating season and strengthen our energy infrastructure.”
