The next week may pass in Ukraine almost without blackouts: the director of the Energy Research Center
The next week may become for Ukraine a kind of test of endurance and readiness to face the energy challenges facing the country in conditions of war. After long months of massive attacks by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which significantly damaged the country’s energy infrastructure, Ukrainians have become accustomed to periodic blackouts. This phenomenon has become part of everyday life, but it continues to cause alarm in society. However, there is a new hope that the situation may significantly improve in the coming days.
Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Energy Research Center, gave encouraging forecasts regarding the near future prospects for the Ukrainian energy system. For him in words, the next week may pass without large-scale blackouts or with minimal restrictions on the population.
Kharchenko notes that thanks to the powerful work on restoring damaged areas of power grids and energy facilities, the situation is stabilizing. If at the beginning of the year the country suffered from constant strikes that disabled key facilities, now the situation is noticeably improving.
The expert explains that this positive forecast became possible thanks to the favorable weather. Because of the comfortable temperature, Ukrainians do not turn on air conditioners or heaters, so the level of light consumption has decreased.
In addition, Oleksandr Kharchenko named other important factors:
“Next week’s power outage will be affected by two factors: the restoration of high-voltage networks, which should be completed by the weekend, and the restoration of power units after attacks by the Russian Armed Forces.
I expect we’ll have at most one round of outages next week. In the same or similar weather as we are having now. And maybe on certain days there will be no outages at all. This situation will be provided that there are no accidents in the energy system or strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on energy facilities.”
The first factor is significant progress in restoring high-voltage power lines that have been hit in recent months. Restoration works are ongoing around the clock, and according to the plan, these works should be completed by the weekend, which will significantly reduce the load on other lines and increase the stability of the electricity supply.
The second important factor that allows us to hope for a reduction in outages is the restoration of the operation of power units damaged by Russian attacks. Repair crews are making every effort to restore these facilities as quickly as possible, as this will significantly increase the total amount of electricity production. Restoration of power units is a complex and long process, but tangible results of these works are expected in the coming days.
