NPC Ukrenergo has completed construction and opened a new 330kV high-voltage line in western Ukraine, said Volodymyr Kudrytsky, chairman of the board of the company.
“Today is Ukrenergo’s birthday (…) It is very symbolic that on this very day we are opening a new 330 kV high-voltage line in western Ukraine. This is the first power facility that Ukrenergo completed during the war,” he wrote on his page on Facebook on Friday.
Considering the limitation of martial law, Kudrytskyi did not talk in detail about this facility, but noted that the new line will increase the reliability of the Ukrainian network in terms of synchronous operation with ENTSO-E and create opportunities for the energy system to receive additional reserves from the Dniester PSP, which means – became more flexible and stable.
“Right now, it is important for us to report that Ukrenergo is able to operate and develop networks even in wartime conditions. Our efforts are focused not only on the resumption of networks affected by hostilities, but also on construction in regions where it is possible to continue implementing new infrastructure projects,” – stressed the head of Ukrenergo.
The company’s message on the website states that the cost of the project amounted to UAH 546 million. According to her, this is 20%, or UAH 134 million, less than the initial cost of the project.
The savings were achieved due to competition in the tender, as well as mainly due to the optimization of design solutions, the company explained, pointing out that the source of funding was Ukrenergo’s tariff funds and the company’s income from the sale of access to interstate cross-sections.
They indicated that the construction of the line, which took 17 months, was provided for in a 10-year plan for the development of the transmission system.
The importance of its opening is increasing due to the gradually growing consumption of electricity in the western region, which is associated with the relocation of business along the left-bank part of Ukraine to the western regions, Ukrenergo noted.
“The new line, together with previously installed equipment, significantly increases the reliability of power supply to consumers and industry throughout the Chernivtsi region,” the company stressed.
In addition, the line is also important for balancing the energy system of Ukraine, because thanks to it, in particular, the reliability of the operation of the Dniester PSP in pumping and generating modes by three hydraulic units in the normal scheme is increased, and taking into account the future construction of another 330 kV overhead line – by four hydro units.
“To connect the line, a number of works were carried out at two substations 750 kV and 330 kV. In particular, relay protection devices, emergency automation and communication devices were replaced at the 330 kV substation, and a new 330 kV closet was built at the 750 kV substation to connect the line,” the company described the work.
A group of Ukrainian and international experts analyzing the real impact of the sanctions applied against Russia have discovered shipments of Kazakh oil that may secretly contain Russian oil, Oleg Ustenko, economic adviser to the President of Ukraine, said in a commentary to The Economist.
“A group of experts has already managed to detect shipments of Kazakh oil, which they believe contain part of the secretly loaded Russian oil,” Ustenko said, quoted on the website of the official website of the President of Ukraine on Friday.
As the source explained, the expert group tracks tankers with Russian oil using network analysis software, which, in particular, allows you to establish links between disparate data.
Experts are tracking the energy supply routes through which “Russia is desperately trying to finance its war machine.”
Information to the group is provided by both international experts and members of the government of other countries and even intelligence.
“The program analyzes the behavior of ships, taking into account various information. For example, the declared cargo, route and insurance data, as well as historical navigation patterns in various weather and market conditions. You can even see the tonnage of cargo on board the ship and understand if there is a suspicion that on There may be more cargo on board than stated,” the website notes with reference to Ustenko.
Experts following the results of the analysis send warnings to the relevant governments and companies, including Ukrainian departments.
In addition, a more modern approach is being taken, which involves the use of satellites in low orbits to receive signals from airborne radars.
“They’re used for navigation and collision avoidance, so sailors don’t tend to turn them off,” the source explained.
New signal processing software determines the geolocation of the signal source, sometimes within a few hundred meters.
Kyiv will leave tariffs for hot water at the level of the previous heating season until May 31, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“Today, in the conditions of martial law, when people found themselves in a difficult financial situation, we made an important decision on the provision of public services in the capital. This decision will ensure the use of tariffs for hot water and heat energy for its preparation until May 31 at the level of the previous heating season. That is, we will extend these tariffs without raising them!” Klitschko said after a meeting of the city council on Friday.
The Kyiv mayor recalled that the city authorities managed to keep tariffs for heat and hot water in the 2021-2022 heating season – “despite a significant increase in the costs of producing these services.”
“So today, in difficult conditions for the state and people, the city continues to restrain tariffs. Further adjustment of the cost will depend on the price of gas, which will be set at the state level. Today, we are doing what we can and what depends on us,” he said.
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has delegated the right of the Ukrainian national team to play instead of the Russian national team at the 2022 World Championship, according to the website of the Volleyball Federation of Ukraine.
“On April 14, HLF President Mikhail Melnik received a letter from the FIVB, which states that Ukraine will play in the 2022 World Cup instead of Russia. The letter says that there will be no new draw procedure and Ukraine will take Russia’s place in Group A under the first seeded number! ” – the message says.
Initially, the World Cup was supposed to be held in Russia, but the Russian Federation was deprived of the right to host it because of the war in Ukraine. For the same reason, the Russian team was excluded from the tournament.
CHAMPIONSHIP, REPLACE RUSSIA, UKRAINIAN NATIONAL TEAM, VOLLEYBALL
On Friday, April 15, 24 vehicles for firefighters and doctors, as well as 50 tons of emergency equipment, will arrive in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
“In support of Ukraine, our firefighters and rescuers will deliver tomorrow 24 fire engines and ambulances, as well as 50 tons of emergency equipment. This is the second convoy in a month. To our agents, communities, companies and citizens who contribute: thank you,” the President wrote on his Twitter on the night of Thursday to Friday.
US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced his readiness to make a trip to Ukraine, the White House press pool said.
“Yes,” the president said, answering the question whether he was ready to go to Ukraine.
At the same time, the president noted that the US administration is currently “making a decision” about a possible trip of high-ranking representatives of the US authorities to Ukraine.
Earlier, Politico reported, citing sources, that the US administration was conducting internal discussions about sending a high-ranking US official to Kyiv in order to demonstrate support for Ukraine. The most likely candidates for a trip to Kyiv may be US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken or Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
The administration is also considering the candidacies of the US President himself and US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Politico’s interlocutors noted that if the administration decides to send someone to Kyiv, there will be no advance announcement of the trip for security reasons.
