25.03.2024
Russian War Against Ukraine: Energy Dimension | DiXi Group Alert – weekly review
March 18 – 24
- On March 22, Russia carried out the largest attack on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The enemy used 151 airborne weapons (UAVs, ballistic and cruise missiles). Thermal and hydropower generation facilities, Ukrenergo’s main substations, transmission and distribution networks were affected.
- Almost 1.6 GW of the Dnipro HPP in the city of Zaporizhzhia capacity was temporarily lost. 8 missiles were reported to impact the facility, with equipment and hydraulic units, and a significant number of construction structures damaged.
- One of the thermal power plants operators – DTEK – lost almost half of its generating capacity. In Kharkiv, the cogeneration plant and all transformer substations were destroyed.
- On March 23, Russian troops attacked energy infrastructure facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk region, on March 25 – two substations in the Odesa region (195,000 consumers disconnected).
- On March 24, missile strikes damaged the on-ground infrastructure at one of the underground gas storage facilities (probably the largest one – Bilche-Volytsko-Ugerske facility). The attack will not affect gas supply to consumers and nominations of customers of storage services – so the CEO of Naftogaz Oleksii Chernyshov.
- Emergency assistance from Romania, Slovakia and Poland was activated on March 22 to support the safe operation of the power system. The volume of imports doubled to 49.1 GWh, exports dropped more than 3 times to 10.6 GWh.
- As of March 25, electricity consumption restrictions were applied in the Odesa and Kharkiv regions. Due to hostilities and technological disruptions, 401 settlements were offline.
- Specialists also restored the operation of the 750 kV line connecting the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP with the power system of Ukraine. The occupiers at the ZNPP informed the IAEA experts they have postponed the maintenance of some safety systems.
- Protective structures at all energy facilities withstood direct and indirect impact, ensuring full protection of autotransformers and power equipment – the Head of the State Reconstruction Agency Mustafa Nayyem.
- The Base DAM index increased to 3,456.9 UAH/MWh (+19.5%), while the Base BCM index remained stable – at 2,409.0 UAH/MWh for March and 2,473 .4 UAH/MWh (+2.7%) for April.
- Ukrnafta and the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) signed acts of acceptance/transfer of the assets seized from Glusco group. Also, in the next three years, Ukrnafta plans to commission 160 new wells and lateral shafts.
- The government approved procedures for compensating the cost of engineering and transport infrastructure facilities and the costs of grid connection for the implementation of investment projects under state support.
- A resolution was also approved that regulates the exports of electricity purchased by Guaranteed Buyer from RES producers.
- The Verkhovna Rada adopted the law on amendments to the Customs Code and other laws regulating the customs clearance of biomethane transported via pipelines for exports.
- The Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft law aiming a gradual (in 4 years) increase of excise tax rates on fuels to the minimum levels set in the EU.
- The government approved the draft Ukraine Plan under the Ukraine Facility, a basis for the implementation of the EU financial support in 2024-2027. The Plan includes over 150 indicators for 69 directions of reforms in 15 sectors. Energy is identified as having one of the greatest potentials for accelerating economic growth.
