Over coal problems
Ukraine has started electricity imports from Russia as domestic thermal power plants experience problems with coal supplies, the country`s fuel and energy ministry said Tuesday.
According to the ministry, it made the decision on electricity imports due to delays in coal supplies to thermal power plants, unplanned repairs on the second energy unit of the Khmelnitskaya nuclear power plant, and a failure by the state coal company, Ugol Ukrainy, to carry out in full planned coal deliveries.
"The state foreign trade enterprise, Ukrinterenergo, started from September 15 the commercial imports of electricity from the Russian Federation. The amount of electricity supplies defined in a contract with the Russian counterparty, Inter RAO UES, totals 500 MW. The cost of electricity has not been disclosed," UNIAN said.
Ukraine`s fuel and energy ministry said Russian electricity was being imported at prices 12% below prices on the Ukrainian wholesale electric power market, but declined to specify the length of the contract.
UNIAN, RIA Novosti