Ukraine has to conserve even more electricity and gas, minister says
Consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on critical infrastructure in Dnipropetrovska oblast (Photo:State emergency service of Ukraine)
While Ukraine is gradually recovering from recent Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, consumers will have to save even more electricity and natural gas going forward, Regional Development Minister, Oleksii Chernyshev, told Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine on Oct. 21.
According to the minister, nearly half of central heating facilities, damaged or destroyed by Russian air and drone strikes, have since been repaired.
“Russian strikes damaged 580 boiler stations; 253 of them have already been repaired, with most of the remaining ones expected to come back online by the end of October,” said Chernyshev.
In terms of damaged combined heat and power (CHP) plants across the country, the minister said three facilities have been completely restored, four more are close to being operational again, while 12 are undergoing emergency repairs. Three CHP plants were damaged in Kyiv, the official added. In general, Russia seems to be focusing more on disrupting the Ukrainian power distribution network, targeting transformers and substations.
Chernyshev noted that households and businesses didn’t do enough to conserve electricity consumption after Moscow stepped up its efforts to knock out Ukraine’s energy system on Oct. 10 – something the Ukrainian government has repeatedly urged citizens to do.
“Many heeded our requests; but that’s still not enough,” the minister said.
“And now we’ll have to conserve not only electricity, but natural gas as well, just as EU countries have been doing for some months now. It’s crucial that we do so, and I urge everyone to be responsible in that regard.”
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