Ukrainians will have to deal with power cuts until late March
Kyiv during blackouts, November 20, 2022 (Photo:Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)
Regular power outages across Ukraine will likely last until at least the end of March 2023, CEO of Yasno (consumer-facing branch of Ukraine’s largest private energy company DTEK) Serhiy Kovalenko said in a Facebook post on Nov. 21.
“Despite the bad weather, energy technicians are trying their best to complete the repairs before weather gets even colder,” said Kovalenko.
“And although there are fewer blackouts now, I want everyone to understand: most likely, Ukrainians will have to live with blackouts until at least the end of March.”
According to Kovalenko, if Russia doesn’t launch new attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid, the outages could get shorter.
He also stated that if enemy air strikes subside, it would be possible to return to the previous level of electricity generation, removing the need for power cuts altogether. But if the power grid gets even more severely damaged by Russian attacks, it will be necessary to use not just stabilization shutdowns, but also emergency shutdowns, during which power could be gone for prolonged periods of time.
“It seems to me that one should be prepared for different options, even the worst ones,” Kovalenko added.
“Stock up on warm clothes, blankets. Think over ways to help yourself wait out a long blackout.”
Earlier, DTEK stated that their specialists are working to ensure that planned power outages last no longer than a couple of hours at a time.
On Nov. 18, Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal said that as a result of the Russian missile strikes on critical infrastructure, almost half of Ukraine's energy system was disrupted.
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