The topic is increasingly coming up in discussions as the days grow dimmer and dimmer in Ukraine. While nine waves of massive Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure have caused major power outages since March, the population is worried about the coming winter and its negative temperatures, when temperatures increase electricity needs.
On Thursday, September 19, the director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) made some particularly alarming statements for the coming months. “The Ukrainian energy system has survived the last two winters (…), But this winter will be by far the toughest test yet.” Fatih Birol warned in Brussels during a press conference to present the agency’s latest report on the energy security of the war-torn country.
Beyond a worrying inventory, the document entitled “Ukraine’s energy security and the coming winter” presents ten emergency recommendations to cover the country’s energy needs in the coming months. The IEA stresses the importance of securing and strengthening the country’s critical infrastructure as much as possible. It also calls on Kyiv’s partners to: “accelerate” deliveries of equipment and spare parts for repairs. In addition, the agency points out the importance of the energy system focusing on the decentralization of electricity supply through the acquisition of diesel generators, small gas-fired combined heat and power plants, solar photovoltaic energy…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in kyiv on Friday, presented a plan for EU energy aid worth 160 million euros, part of which will be used to repair damaged energy facilities that cover 15% of consumer needs.
Imports from neighbouring European countries
On Thursday, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine released an equally alarming report. “While Ukrainian authorities, energy companies and humanitarian and reconstruction agencies are making immense efforts to avert a humanitarian crisis, Ukraine will face a major electricity deficit in winter, with daily blackouts during the cold months, depriving civilians of the electricity they need to power their homes, run water pumps and allow children to study online, the document states. Some regions could be left without heating. »
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