European partnership for Ukraine’s hydropower recovery and development
A meeting between Ukrhydroenergo management and representatives of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine and the European Investment Bank took place at Kaniv Hydropower Plant.
Among the guests were Gediminas Navickas, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, and Kristina Mikulova, Head of the EIB Regional Representation in Eastern Europe.
Together with the Interim Director General of Ukrhydroenergo Bogdan Sukhetskyi and the member of the Supervisory Board Vitalii Kushnirov, the delegation members visited the power plant and discussed both the current challenges for Ukrainian hydropower, as well as its long-term development. Special attention was paid to the Kaniv PSP Construction Project. The Chief Design Engineer from Ukrhydroproject Vadym Halat presented the technical solutions and implementation stages of the Project.
During the meeting, Kristina Mikulova noted that she had already visited some of Ukrhydroenergo’s hydropower plants and that, each time, she was most impressed by the people who continue working in extremely difficult conditions: “We have seen your facilities before and understand the challenges Ukrainian hydropower is currently facing. The work Ukrainian energy professionals do every day is truly impressive. It is thanks to their efforts that Ukrainians made it through this winter, and that deserves utmost respect.”
“It is important for us to support Ukraine not only in restoring damaged infrastructure, but also in implementing projects that contribute to the country’s future energy security”, — noted the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Gediminas Navickas.
“We appreciate that our partners visit the power plants in person and can see for themselves the conditions under which Ukraine’s hydropower sector operates today. This is also a vital source of support for our people, who, despite the constant danger and the consequences of attacks, continue to repair damaged equipment and do everything they can to ensure that hydropower fulfills its role in the power grid”, — emphasized Bogdan Sukhetskyi.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed opportunities for further cooperation in restoration of hydropower facilities, modernization of equipment, and implementation of promising infrastructure projects.
