Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushenko gave an interview to Bloomberg, in which he did not rule out an increase in electricity tariffs.
According to him, the total losses from the latest Russian bombings have not been officially calculated. However, according to Galushchenko, they already amount to billions of hryvnias and may continue to grow. Ultimately, he believes, the scale could reach billions of dollars.
Galushchenko said that Ukraine is looking for the energy equipment it needs around the world, in particular in neighboring countries, to replace damaged equipment.
"But this search may be pointless if the country does not have sufficient air defense," he said.
According to Galushchenko, Russia's goal is to destroy Ukraine's economy. He added that more damage to the power system will make it difficult to meet peak consumption this summer.
"Depending on the situation in July and August, we will ask people to save as much as possible. The Russians will not be able to cause a repeat of the blackouts of 2022 and 2023. Even in case of huge losses, we will have basic generation that will cover from 30% to 50% of our needs," said the minister.
Galushchenko also did not rule out an increase in electricity tariffs for the population.
He said that the government is studying different ways of financing the repair of its energy assets.
Kyiv almost doubled the price of electricity for industry last June after the winter attacks. But today, Galushchenko claims, the situation is even more difficult: "We have lost a lot of hydropower products and are forced to carry out scheduled repairs of nuclear power units."
Ukraine plans to build two more nuclear units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP using existing equipment.
According to officials, one of the blocks is almost ready. Last July, Bulgarian lawmakers approved a plan to abandon the multi-year project to build a nuclear power plant in the Danube city of Belene and negotiate the sale of equipment to Ukraine. The plan included the sale of two reactors, steam generators and other equipment.
"When we have a unit building, it will take us two and a half years to put the unit into operation, which can add one gigawatt to the volume of electricity supply," Galushchenko said.
