Centrenergo prepares for the heating season: eight power units and protective structures

For the upcoming heating season, Centrenergo plans to actively engage eight power units with a total capacity of 1640 MW. Currently, the company is actively working on the restoration of power plants as a result of damage caused by Russian shelling. This is reported by the official website of Centrenergo.

To ensure the uninterrupted operation of thermal power plants during possible Russian attacks, the company is working on the implementation of protective structures. At Trypillia and Zmiivska TPPs, 100% of the construction of protective structures has been completed, while at Zmiivska TPP this figure is 70%.

Centrenergo includes three thermal power plants: Trypillia, Zmiivska and the temporarily occupied Vuhlehirska. These enterprises are of strategic importance for electricity generation for the central regions of Ukraine.

In order to ensure reliable operation of all power units during the autumn and winter period, Trypilska and Zmiivska TPPs will use a mixed fuel regime of coal, gas and fuel oil.

The projected coal demand of the two TPPs for the heating season is 1.7 million tons. This fuel is currently being stored in warehouses. Under the existing contracts, the main suppliers are Ukrvuhillya and Volynvuhillya, as well as Novogrodovskaya Mine 1-3 LLC. Negotiations are also underway with DTEK, state-owned enterprises and Krasnolimanskaya Mine LLC.

At the same time, to provide an alternative fuel source, Naftogaz Trading provides guarantees of gas supply until the end of the heating season.

Centrenergo is considering using Ukrainian fuel oil production to reduce the cost of electricity generation.

In early July, acting CEO Viktor Spychka said that the company was having problems preparing for the heating season due to the high degree of wear and tear on its power units caused by outdated equipment installed in the 1960s and 1970s. Centrenergo also faces problems with the supply of spare parts from the CIS countries.

Before the start of the heating season, thermal power generation facilities have to accumulate 1.8 million tons of coal in warehouses, said First Deputy Energy Minister Yuriy Vlasenko. As of the beginning of August, there was a 100,000-ton lag in fuel accumulation compared to the target.