Global news outlet Semafor recently published an article on the difficulties encountered by DTEK as it works to repair and restore its fossil fuel power plants, severely damaged by russian attacks.
The article paints a vivid picture of the destruction at one of DTEK's power plants, describing it as a scene of "charred, twisted metal draped in fallen insulation; splintered stairways and caved-in catwalks; enormous turbine shells and fuel silos pockmarked with shrapnel." Despite the extensive damage, DTEK's engineers remain committed to restoring operations, with one top engineer, Oleksandr, expressing optimism about partial functionality by year's end.
The Semafor article also touches on the changing attitudes of Western investors towards supporting Ukraine's thermal power generation.DTEK Executive Director Dmytro Sakharuk highlighted the strain on the company, stating, "Even if everything was here, the equipment, people, grid connections, permits, et cetera, and without fighting a war at the same time, it will be impossible from the physics of the process to build even one gigawatt of generation within a couple of months."
For more details on DTEK's efforts to rebuild Ukraine's energy infrastructure and the challenges faced, you can read the full article on Semafor's website.