Ukraine's united power grid geared up for the autumn-winter period, assures Ihor Nasalyk

Public electricity suppliers are 100 percent ready for the autumn-winter period, power generating companies, in particular CHPP, TPP, NPP, hydro, hydroaccumulating and nuclear power plants operate according to the schedule and even ahead of schedule. Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Ihor Nasalyk announced during a conference call chaired by Vice Prime Minister/Minister for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko titled “2017-2018 Heating season: readiness of regions”.

Regarding the coal reserves, the Minister told that “current amount of coal in underground storages make up 1.6 million tons. There have been concluded all necessary contracts for the supply of coal of the anthracite group and all the contracts for the coal of the gas group”. In addition, according to him, state-owned coal-mining companies of Ukraine have hit the production target at 97%. It is also expected to increase production by 40-50% at the end of the current year and the beginning of next year.

Ihor Nasalyk presented a report on the readiness of NPPs and noted that the launch of 4  1000 MW nuclear power units in October 2017 would allow the replacement of 20 TPP units with the capacity of 200 MW and saving of 50 thousand tons of coal per day.

"The Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry chose a different philosophy as energy issues imply a security issue for Ukraine: we have introduced a system of readiness of Ukraine's energy system on a daily basis," the Minister said, "Starting with the signing of the balance of electric power in November last year, we have already geared up Ukraine's power grid in the most reliable way," Ihor Nasalyk added.

The Minister emphasized the need for timely payment for the consumed electricity. In particular, it concerns the debts of utility companies for water supply and draining, because these funds prove necessary for generating companies to purchase energy resources.

Functioning of the unified power grid of Ukraine has been ensured and its preparedness is out of question for the upcoming autumn-winter period", summed up the Minister.