Ukraine to Import Up to 2.1 Gigawatts of Electricity from the EU This Winter

Ukraine and the European Union have reached an agreement to increase Ukraine’s electricity import capacity to 2.1 gigawatts (GW) this winter, according to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, as reported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy.

From December 1, 2024, the maximum electricity import capacity from EU countries will rise from the current 1.7 GW to 2.1 GW, enhancing the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system in the face of Russian attacks on its infrastructure, said Minister Halushchenko.

This decision follows a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv this September, where the importance of boosting Ukraine’s import capacity was discussed. Since December 2023, Ukrainian transmission system operator Ukrenergo has been a full member of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), which granted Ukraine an import capacity of 1.7 GW.

In July, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that damage to Ukraine’s energy sector from Russian strikes has amounted to $56.5 billion. The energy company DTEK previously reported that Russia has targeted its thermal power plants over 180 times since the beginning of the invasion, reducing its generation capacity by 90%.

Following relentless Russian attacks, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been undergoing preparations ahead of the winter. As of early September, 82% of heating facilities and 85% of protective structures at Ukrenergo sites were reportedly ready. On October 12, Shmyhal announced the establishment of a government task force to oversee and coordinate regional readiness for winter challenges.