Acting Director of state-run company Ukrenergo Vsevolod Kovalchuk does not rule out power blackouts during the winter period because of a high price of coal and gas, according to Ukraine`s weekly newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli.
Kovalchuk noted that in case of a coal deficit, gas and fuel fed power units at the Zaporizhia and Trypilska thermal power plants (TPPs) may be put into operation and preference will be given to consume more natural gas for electricity generation.
At this, Kovalchuk admitted the price of electricity produced from gas would be quite high.
”Yes, the price will be much higher as compared to coal-based generation, but it is for the sake of the country`s energy system stability. Other options will be much more expensive, or consumption will have to be reduced — in cycles, without massive power cuts,” he said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, in late July, the Cabinet of Ministers approved an action plan to prepare for the 2016-2017 heating season. According to the plan, the country intends to accumulate 2.8 million tonnes of coal in warehouses of thermal power plants by November 1, 2016.
Meanwhile, coal stocks in TPPs warehouses, as of October 2, amounted to 1.3 million tonnes, according to Ukrenergo.
On October 4, Ukrenergo announced that coal supplies to Ukrainian TPPs were stable, and the schedule had slipped only by four days.
