Tomorrow (Saturday, 16 March 2024) marks the second anniversary of the synchronisation of Ukraine’s and Moldova’s electricity grids to the Continental European Network. With fears about the security of energy supply for both countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) and the European Commission worked very closely with the counterparts in the two countries and managed to complete the synchronisation process in less than three weeks, although more than one year was initially foreseen to complete the synchronization.

European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) President Zbyněk Boldiš said:

Synchronisation is an act of solidarity from the European Transmission System Operators. It was important for Ukraine and Moldova as it helped them keep their electricity systems stable under extremely difficult circumstances. As things have evolved, the synchronisation now offers Ukraine the opportunity to make the best possible use of its reserves and trade electricity with the EU both in import and export directions.

EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said:

The synchronisation of the grids two years ago was not only a very important achievement for securing energy supplies for both Ukraine and Moldova. It was also a strong political symbol of our support, and that remains the case today. Throughout the difficult two years of war in Ukraine, our cooperation with Minister Galushchenko and Ukrenergo has been seamless. I would therefore also want to pay tribute to the extraordinary efforts and skills of Ukraine in keeping the system running and carrying out repairs in the face of Russia’s targeted attacks against energy infrastructure.

Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, CEO of Ukrenergo, said:

Ukrenergo meets the second anniversary of synchronisation as an ENTSO-E Member. For the second year of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Ukrainian power system has been operating synchronously with the European grid. For NPC Ukrenergo as well as for the whole Ukraine, the integration into ENTSO-E has become an event of extraordinary importance. We not only joined one of the largest interconnected power system in the world with the highest standards of operation, but also received huge support when the full-scale war broke out. Integration means new opportunities for electricity exchanges, more investments, and, above all, a new level of energy security, which will be enhanced by joint efforts from now on. We highly value the possibility of cooperating with ENTSO-E, and we are grateful to our European colleagues for their immense support all along the way towards this goal.

At the end of 2023, ENTSO-E confirmed that the Ukrainian TSO Ukrenergo had achieved compliance with all requirements for permanent synchronization. Ukrenergo also became a full member of ENTSO-E on 1st January 2024. In the coming years, the close cooperation with Moldelectrica will continue to achieve the same compliance with the EU operational framework. The European Union continues to provide wide-ranging support to Ukraine in the energy sector, and will stand by Ukraine’s side for as long as it takes.

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