Article author:
Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the start of transmission to Romania is the beginning of a process that could help Europe reduce Russia's dependence on hydrocarbons.
Zelenskiy's comment in a nightly video message on Thursday followed Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal's announcement that exports began in 100 megawatts four months after Russia's Ukrainian War.
President said the start of exports was "another important step in our move towards the European Union."
"Thanks to Ukrainian power, we can replace a significant portion of the Russian gas used by European consumers, so this is for us. It's not just about export revenue, it's about safety across Europe, "Zelenskiy said.
"Remind us that the connection between our country and the common EU energy system has already happened since the beginning of the war. Ukraine was once thought impossible. We are doing that now. ”
Ukraine has agreed to join the European Transmission System Operator Network (ENTSO-E) as an observer in mid-March after the grid is linked to the EU grid. Did.
ENTSO-E said this week that it was ready for its first export from Ukraine, along with power from former Soviet Moldova, from June 30th, using interconnection with Romania. rice field.
It said that electricity trading on other interconnections between Ukraine and Slovakia, between Ukraine and Hungary, and between Moldova and Romania will soon continue. The group said the total trading capacity would initially be set at 100 MW in the first phase.
In a previous announcement, Prime Minister Schmihar said the potential for Ukrainian electricity exports to Europe could reach 2.5 gigawatts. (Report by Ronald Popeski, edited by Stephen Coates)
