22 June 2007
Ukrainian electricity imports were halted because Belarus had used up its allowance for first six months, says source with national electric power utility
Ukrainian electricity imports were halted because Belarus had used up its allowance for the first six months, Uladzimir Karduba, chief engineer with national electric power utility Belenerha, explained to BelaPAN on June 21.
"We haven't received electricity from Ukraine since the end of May," he said, adding that Belarus "has not experienced any electricity shortages following the suspension of the Ukrainian supplies." Mr. Karduba did not specify when the supplies would resume.
On June 20, the Ukrainian government's UNIAN news agency reported with reference to a source at the energy ministry that Ukraine had suspended electricity supplies to Belarus because of a shortage of nuclear-generated electricity in the domestic market. Ukraine had contracted to supply Belarus with 62 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in June, the news agency said.
The shortage of nuclear-generated electricity occurred after four units at the country's four nuclear power plants had been shut down for routine summer repairs, the press office of the Ukrainian fuel and energy ministry explained to BelaPAN.
Ukraine suggested that Belarus should buy electricity at a market price for the time being, but Minsk rejected the offer because it "wants to receive the cheaper nuclear-generated electricity," the press office said.
Ukraine's electricity exporter, Ukrinterenerho, reportedly supplied Belarus with only half of the amount that it was to supply in April and May under the contract.
Belarus is a major consumer of Ukrainian electricity. The country was said to have imported about 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours worth $50 million in 2006 and expected to import up to 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours in 2007.
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