The United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine and Japan have announced the provision of three gas turbines and assistance in transporting seven autotransformers to Ukraine.

The autotransformers were previously purchased by the National Power Company, Ukrenergo, with funds from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

“This collaborative effort, implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine aims to meet urgent needs of Ukraine’s energy sector for the winter of 2024, while also supporting long-term national goals,” the UNDP said in a statement on Monday.

It added that approximately 93 per cent of Ukrainians faced disruptions in essential services such as electricity, heating, and water supplies.

“Installing the new gas turbines and the autotransformers will help to avoid disruptions this winter, maintaining critical services for over 5.5 million Ukrainians in affected areas,” stated the statement.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, Christophoros Politis, said: “For the second consecutive year, in collaboration with our partners, we have been diligently working to assist Ukraine.

“We have been working to assist Ukraine in preparing for potential energy threats, ensuring that everyone has light and warmth during the winter.”

Working with Japan, UNDP has supplied essential emergency equipment to communities across Ukraine, including 1,000 power banks and 1,200 generators.

In October 2023, two high-power autotransformers were delivered to enhance the country’s power transmission capacity.

“The challenge the country faces in the energy sector is immense,” said Mr Politis.

According to the UNDP in Ukraine report, “Towards a Green Transition of the Energy Sector in Ukraine,” generation capacity has been reduced to nearly 50 per cent of its pre-2022 levels.

It said since the invasion of February 2022, out of nearly 37 gigawatts of production capacity, over 19 gigawatts had been destroyed, damaged, or seized by Russian forces.

(NAN)