Russian War Against Ukraine: Energy Dimension | DiXi Group Alert – weekly review

May 8-14

Summary

• According to Energoatom, as part of the possible evacuation that the occupiers are preparing for, Russia plans to withdraw about 3,100 people from the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Further reductions in the number of employees could have a negative impact on nuclear safety – the IAEA.
• Massive Russian attacks did not damage the main energy infrastructure. However, due to the terror of the front-line territories, some consumers in 6 regions remained without power supply. 
• The lack of electricity produced by NPPs under maintenance will be compensated by the operation of TPPs, increased production from RES and imports. Probably, due to the maintenance campaign, Energoatom-Trading did not initiate trades on the bilateral contracts market for the second week in a row. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Ukrenergo denied reports about the alleged introduction of electricity supply restrictions for household consumers in May.
• The Regulator expanded the rights of prosumers to sell electricity – they can sell electricity produced to any supplier at a contractual price, in volumes that exceed the monthly self-consumption. 
• Central executive authorities (with the exception of the Ministry of Defense) shall buy fuel and electricity through the State Institution “Professional Procurement” – government decision. Meanwhile, the NEURC decided to limit the publication of information regarding the setting of tariffs, the formation of transmission and distribution systems development plans, etc. during the martial law. 
• Draft Procedure for Using the Fund for Decarbonization and Energy-Efficient Transformation of Ukraine developed – so the Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency Hanna Zamazeyeva. The Agency is also developing programs to support households in implementing energy efficiency measures, installing solid fuel boilers, heat pumps, and solar collectors; incentives for domestic production of biomass boilers, modular boiler houses; support of municipalities, critical infrastructure facilities, and businesses in the transition to alternative energy sources; cheaper loans for ESCO companies etc. 
• As the Ministry of Energy reported, the government has approved the draft law, which establishes the procedure for the corporate reform of GTSOU and the transition to the single operator model, with 100% of the authorized capital owned by the government. 
• The government banned the imports of fuel and oil products of unknown origin. In that way, it blocked the possibility of importing oil products originating from Russia.
• The Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide Ukrenergo with equipment for substations worth about 40 million USD under the Emergency Recovery Program.
• The Cabinet of Ministers has extended the 5-7-9% concessional lending programme to owners of TPPs and CHPs affected by the actions of the Russian occupation forces.
• On May 10, the YeVidnovlennia (eRestoration) programme was launched, under which Ukrainians will be able to receive up to 200,000 UAH to repair housing damaged by the war. 
• The Security Service and the Economic Security Bureau handed suspicions to businessman Dmytro Firtash and 8 top managers of affiliated companies, and also began searches of the managers of gas DSOs. According to law enforcement, structures controlled by Firtash purchased gas from affiliated company, but actually received 30% of the volumes. The deficit was covered by gas withdrawals from the transmission system, with payments being partial. As reported, over seven years, such a scheme caused 18 billion UAH in losses.
• The President signed a decree imposing sanctions, including those against the nominal and actual owners of VS Energy.