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Ukraine to double power imports on Thursday after Russian attacks, ministry states

Ukraine prepares to double electrical power imports on Thursday after a powerful Russian attack on Ukraine's energy system, the energy ministry said.

The imports are anticipated to increase to 16,699 megawatt hours ( Mwh) versus 7,600 Mwh on Wednesday, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.

The prepared imports are close to the record high of 18,649 Mwh, which was tape-recorded at the end of March after the very first wave of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector.

The state-run energy company Ukrhydroenergo said on Thursday that its two hydropower plants were badly damaged earlier this week and were no longer in operation after Russian barrages.

As of today all hydro generation has actually suffered ravaging damage, it stated in a declaration on the Telegram messaging app, including that substantial financial resources and efforts would be needed to repair the damage and restore the plants' operations.

Ukraine ran 10 hydro power plants prior to the Russian invasion in 2022, which produced about 10% of all Ukrainian electrical power.

In 2023, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovska hydropower plant and after latest attacks just seven plants are running at substantially minimized capability.

Ukrainian officials have said the country had actually likewise lost about 80% of its thermal power generation and now Ukraine has to rely increasingly on its three nuclear reactor, which produce about 60% of its electricity.

Thermal and hydro-electric power generation are needed to keep the levels of supply and usage balanced during peak hours of energy usage in the morning and evening.

EMERGENCY HELP

Today, at Ukraine's request, emergency electrical energy materials have currently been made from Poland, Romania and Slovakia, the ministry stated.

Emergency situation assistance will also be provided during night peak hours of electricity usage, it kept in mind.

Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo stated in a different statement it anticipated a significant deficit of electrical power for almost the entire day.

Industrial intake will be restricted from 18:00 to 24:00. With a boost in usage, emergency shutdowns are possible, Ukrenergo said.

Ukraine, a net power exporter before the Russian intrusion in 2022, sharply increased imports of electricity and halted exports after a series attacks on the energy system in late March, April and May.

(source: Reuters)