The European Union predicts a difficult winter for Ukrainians due to the loss of half of the energy capacities.
The European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, stated this in a column for the Financial Times.
"To date, russia has destroyed or captured about 9 GW of electricity production in Ukraine. This is half of the electricity that Ukraine needs in winter and is equivalent to the peak electricity consumption in Portugal, a country with a population of more than 10 million," the official said.
According to her, while Ukrainian energy workers are repairing the damage and restoring the operation of energy facilities, the russian occupiers attack and destroy them again, which turns the repair into a "Sisyphean labor". At the same time, Simson noted that the European Union and the entire international community support Ukraine. So far, it has already managed to collect EUR 500 million for assistance in the energy sector. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism provided in-kind assistance, including more than 8,000 generators and more than 3,300 transformers.
"But the international community must do much more. In order to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine, we need to step up unprecedented efforts for logistical support and assistance now," she said.
The European Commissioner stressed that a prolonged lack of electricity in winter means the impossibility of access to basic services: water supply and heating.
"During freezing winter temperatures, some places in Ukraine may simply become unlivable. Elderly people, children and vulnerable sections of the population will suffer the most. Where the electrical load has already reached the limit, some areas may collapse under the weight of additional demand from displaced people. With the decline in economic activity, budget revenues will decrease, increasing Ukraine's budget deficit and reducing its ability to support the national struggle for freedom. The risk of a humanitarian disaster is high," Simson said.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on July 30, Yurii Boiko, adviser to the Prime Minister of Ukraine on energy issues, said that in the coming months, power outages may be minor.
According to Ukrenergo, in August, September and October there will be more days without power outages, and restrictions will be applied only in the evening, provided there are no missile attacks.
On July 26, the chairman of the board of Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, said that probably the most difficult period of summer for the energy industry is behind us.
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