Ukraine ceased electricity exchange with Russia and Belarus for a three-day trial period, according to Energy Charts, a provider of electricity production interactive graphics and electricity exchange prices, on Thursday.
Kyiv's electricity imports from Moscow were reset on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 2200 Central European Time (CET), equivalent to 12.00 local time.
According to information collated by Anadolu Agency from Energy Charts, Ukraine's electricity purchases from Belarus were stopped on Feb. 23 at 00.00 CET (2.00 pm local time) and will run until the end of Feb. 26, during which time Ukraine will test the power system.
Although this outage was said to have been planned, some experts maintain the tension between Russia and Ukraine accelerated the process of connecting Kyiv to the European electricity network.
Ukraine, which sends small volumes of electricity to both countries, ended the power exchange with Belarus on Feb. 23 at 1300 CET (3.00 pm local time) and with Russia on Feb. 24 at 0900 CET (11.00 local time).
The last electricity supply from Belarus to Ukraine, reaching levels of 900 megawatts, was made on Feb. 22.
According to Ukraine's Ministry of Energy data, the country consumes about 23,000 megawatts of electricity and has an additional capacity to generate 3,400 megawatts.
Four Ukrainian nuclear power plants, consisting of 15 nuclear power units, produce about 55% of the country’s needs. Thermal power plants generate 29% while the remaining share is powered by other sources.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba announced in February last year the country’s plans to cut off the electricity grid with Belarus and Russia by the end of 2023.
Although since the time of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Ukrainian electricity grid has been part of a single network that includes Belarus and Russia, Kuleba said Ukraine wants to break away from this network and make the Ukrainian electricity grid an integrated part of the European network by the end of 2023.
Ukraine has invested more than $700 million in recent years to renew its electricity system.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr