Ukraine cuts electricity imports by 30 times in H1 2020

In January-June 2020, Ukraine’s electricity imports decreased by 30 times compared to the previous year, while exports – by 6.8 times.

"Electricity imports in the first half of 2020 decreased by 30 times from 560 million kWh to 18.9 million kWh. Electricity exports in January-March 2020 increased monthly by about 5%. However, the volume of exports fell sharply in April and decreased by 6.8 times by the end of the first half of the year," the press service of Ukrenergo National Power Company reported.

The company explained that the main reasons for the reduction in electricity exports/imports since March were a decrease in demand in neighboring countries due to quarantine and the need to limit imports to Ukraine due to the reduction of domestic consumption and ensuring the operational security of the energy system.

In mid-May, Acting Energy Minister Olha Buslavets said that electricity imports from Russia and Belarus, which has been allowed since September last year, cost Ukraine UAH 5 billion, and 1.5 million tonnes of domestic coal remained unclaimed.

In April 2020, the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection of Ukraine submitted a new forecast energy balance of electricity production and consumption in the Ukrainian energy system for 2020. According to the document, the projected electricity generation by NPPs has been reduced by 7 billion kWh (8.6%), to 73.7 billion kWh.

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