DTEK CEO briefing: Ukraine’s Energy Sector during war

On Thursday November 3, Ukraine’s energy security was the topic of DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko’s online briefing. Starting October 10 russia systematically destroys Ukrainian energy facilities. In such conditions, the whole Ukrainian energy sector is maintained to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe ahead of winter. DTEK employees are real heroes who understand that the maintenance of Ukraine’s energy system depends on their job. 

Please follow the link to find out more:

https://youtu.be/XuqS2LkWoz8

Maxim Timchenko has provided an update on key recent events and how DTEK operates during the war. Here are the key messages: 

Energy facilities under massive miles attack

• The russia is purposefully attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. These attacks are methodical. Open distribution devices, transformers, and switches are hit so that the station that can produce electricity cannot be connected to the combined power system.
• About 40% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure is seriously damaged.
• On October 31, shelling continued. Missiles and drones hit 10 regions, where 18 objects were damaged, most energy-related. Terrorist forces launched missile attacks on three hydroelectric power plants: Dniprovska, Dnistrovska, and Kremenchutska.
• DTEK Energy enterprises are also among the damaged facilities: Prydniprovska TPP suffered 4 missile strikes. As well as one of the objects of the energy infrastructure of DTEK Kyiv Regional Power Grids.
• As a result, 250,000 families in the Kyiv region and 350,000 families in Kyiv were left without electricity supply, and water supply.
• On October 31, DTEK specialists were able to restore power to 85% of consumers in the Kyiv region in just 1 day and are conducting restoration work. Also, in 1 day, electricity supply was restored to all residents of Kyiv and to the equipment of the water supply company.
• However, the biggest losses are human losses: in the last month - 22 were injured, 3 died.

Rolling blackouts

• Due to extensive damage Ukraine’s energy system needs to be stabilized so the State Energy Company NEC "Ukrenergo" is forced to introduce power outages for household and business customers. DTEK does everything possible to ensure that these outages do not last longer than 4 hours.
• Taking into account the experience of the previous 3 weeks and customer feedback updated power outage schedules have been introduced.
• In October, DTEK Grids restored electricity supply to more than 1.3 million families in 1,607 settlements of Kyiv, Odesa, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions and the city of Kyiv.
• In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, DTEK Grids has reconnected over 5 million consumers in Kyiv, Kyiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odesa regions to the electricity supply.

Electricity export and financial stability

• russians attacks also caused stoppage of electricity exports from Ukraine to the EU. State-owned NEC "Ukrenergo" made 4.9 billion UAH on electricity exports to the EU in the period of June 30 to October 9, 2022.
• In addition to a shortfall in revenues, the fate of debt repayment on the energy market is now in question. After all, it was the funds from exports that were distributed both to repay debts on the balancing market and for settlements with the "Guaranteed Buyer" for the fulfillment of PSO.
• More recently, debts on the balancing market, according to various estimates, reached UAH 14 billion.
• Despite this, thermal generation continues to provide balancing services. In September, in order to balance the energy system, private TPPs produced more than UAH 1 billion of electricity, but these funds have not yet been paid either.

Equipment needs

• DTEK Group has already used its stockpile of equipment after the first two "waves" of attacks since October 10.
• Due to the very high equipment prices, we already have some difficulties with procurement. Its value is evaluated in hundreds of millions of dollars.
• We are working on finding a way to buy the equipment or get it from our partners. Ukraine already has some agreements on equipment supply from European Western partners. Negotiations are currently underway to obtain the equipment, but due to the scale of the damage, this is not enough.
• Therefore, our main hope is to buy equipment directly from manufacturers out of turn or to receive humanitarian aid.
• Ideally, we should form a stock of equipment to perform repairment of the damaged infrastructure objects quickly
• DTEK is currently in dire need of various electrical equipment to restore power supply, including:
• The list of urgently needed equipment for DTEK Grids:
• Mobile substation 154 kW (40 kWA transformer + set of switchgear 110, 35, 10, 6 kW)
• Cables 6-10 kW with XLPE insulation (oil-paper acceptable)
• Power transformers 40-63 MWA 150/35/10 kW · 16-63 MWA (150)110/35/10 kW · 16 MWA 35/10 kW
• Switchgear Circuit breaker 110 kW SF6 · Vacuum circuit breaker 35 kW
• The list of urgently needed equipment for DTEK Energy:
• Circuit breaker ABB LTB-420E2 or analogue I=3150A, U=400 kW, I disconnect=40 kA
• Circuit breaker ABB LTB-420E2 or analog I=3150A, U=400 kW, I disconnect=40 kA
• Circuit breaker HPL 245B1 or analog I=3150A, U=220 kW, I disconnect=50 kA
• Current transformer 220 kW Koncar AGU-245 1200/1U=220 kW, class 0.2S, 5P or similar
• 330 kW SF6 circuit breaker type LTB 420E2
• Current transformer 330 kW
• Current transformer 330 kW ABB (busbar switch)
• Coupling capacitor 110/√3 2100 F (air line 238)
• Insulator IOS-35/1000