Ukraine braces for harshest winter yet after attacks on energy facilities

Russian attacks continue to affect Ukraine's electricity production capacity, leaving the country heavily dependent on its three operating nuclear power plants and electricity imported from European Union countries.

“Restoring electricity is one of our biggest challenges this year,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a press conference in Kiev on September 10. “We have successfully overcome two and a half winters and will continue to overcome the third winter, which is equally difficult, if not the most difficult.”

Smoke rises from an energy facility following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo: AP

The Ukrainian government, backed by European countries, is urgently developing initiatives to decentralize power generation, including expanding renewable power capacity, a move welcomed by environmental groups, Mr. Shmyhal said.

Greenpeace believes that a decentralized solar grid, which is harder to destroy in war, could quickly restore power to Ukraine, and is urging the country to expand more aggressively into green energy.

According to the United Nations and the World Bank, Ukraine lost more than half of its power generation capacity in the first 14 months of the conflict, and the situation continues to deteriorate. Much of the country’s solar power generation has also been lost because the sunnier southern regions of the country have been taken over by Russia.

According to the two agencies, Ukraine's pre-conflict energy mix was dominated by traditional energy sources, with coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear accounting for nearly 95% of the total.

Alexander Egit, executive director of Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, has called on Western donor countries to support Ukraine's renewable energy-focused projects during and after the conflict.

“We expect billions of euros from the European Union to be invested in the reconstruction of Ukraine and beyond,” he said. “Greenpeace’s role is to advocate for decentralized renewable energy to ensure Ukraine is rebuilt as a modern, green and independent country.”

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ukraine-prepares-bi-cho-mua-dong-khac-nghiet-nhat-ke-tu-cuoc-xung-dot-voi-nga-post311851.html