$350 million is needed to restore Ukrainian power plants - DTEK director Sakharuk

He said this at the Reconstruction of Ukraine event, Ekonomichna Pravda reports.

According to Sakharuk, due to the fact that Ukraine has lost 8 GW of generation capacity as a result of recent attacks, a shortage of electricity is currently expected during peak periods in summer and winter.

He noted that gas turbines can be used to meet critical needs such as powering hospitals, but that thermal power generation (TPP) needs to be restored to meet needs on a large scale.

"We have 6 power plants. One of them is not going to be rebuilt yet, because it is close to the frontline and there is constant shelling. In addition, the only way to supply coal there has been destroyed," said DTEK's director and added that the TPP has a capacity of 1 GW. 

According to DTEK's management, the damage is estimated at $250 million, with another $100 million needed for repairs. For comparison, last year the company suffered somewhat less damage and spent $110 million to recover from the winter shelling of 2022.  

It is noted that in 2023 this amount was covered at its own expense, but now DTEK is considering various ways to raise funds. For example, obtaining parts and components from European energy facilities, and negotiations are currently underway with the governments of Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Lithuania.

Sakharuk is convinced that this method is the fastest solution for Ukraine, but it will not cover all the needs. In addition, the company can use funds from the Energy Support Fund of Ukraine and other donors:  USAID, JICA and others.

• The day before, DTEK named four conditions for the introduction of hourly blackout schedules in Ukraine, which would be a way to balance the power system.