Ukraine stands against electricity import from Russia and Belarus – Energy Ministry

<p> MINSK, Feb 16 - PrimePress. Ukraine stands against the import of electric energy from Russia and Belarus, and intends to stop it in the future. Ukraine had to resume the electricity import due to the energy deficit caused by the cold weather, says Acting Minister of Energy of Ukraine Yuriy Vitrenko. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Ukraine resumed the import of electricity from Belarus on January 3 and from Russia on February 1, 2021. Ukrenergo Chairman of the Board Volodymyr Kudrytsky said on Monday that Ukraine would not stop importing electricity from Russia until the end of the heating season. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “We do not want Ukraine to import electricity from Russia and Belarus. It is necessary to disconnect the country from the grid shared with Russia and Belarus and join the European system,” Vitrenko said, “The weather was freezing, and there was a shortage of electricity. Ukraine’s nuclear, coal and even gas facilities were engaged, but there was still not enough electricity, hence the emergency import from Belarus. I don’t like this, but rolling blackouts were a definite possibility otherwise.” </p> <p>   </p> <p> Ukraine suspended the import of electricity from Russia and Belarus in April 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Head of the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities of Ukraine Valeriy Tarasyuk said in May that Ukraine should resume it once the pandemic is over. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Vitrenko proposed in late January 2021 reasonable restrictions on the electricity import from Russia and Belarus, advocating the disconnection from the energy system of Russia and Belarus and joining the European grid. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The Energy Ministry of Belarus said it planned to continue interdepartmental talks with Ukraine on electricity supplies. End </p>

2021-02-17

Primepress