KIEV - In connection with the anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk and Lugansk regions there is a critical situation with fuel supply of thermal power plants of the power generating companies in Ukraine. In addition, due to the military operations in Donetsk and Lugansk regions, destruction and damage of electrical networks and infrastructure, property and equipment of coal mines, and transportation infrastructure occurred, which in turn limits the proper functioning of the mining sector in the region and shipment of coal to thermal power plants.

Centrenergo has total installed power generation capacities of 29,697 MW which corresponded to 56 percent of installed capacity of Ukrainian power stations.

Zmiivska thermal power plant is reckoned today among five largest Ukrainian TPPs. It is located near Kharkiv in the economically advanced region of Ukraine where at the present moment there are no significant alternative sources of the electric power supply. The power plant is the largest power generating facility in Slobozhanshchina (Eastern part of Ukraine). Since 1995 Zmiivska TPP is the part of PJSC "Centrenergo" as its separated structural unit.

The major activity is electricity production with output to 110 kV and 330 kV electric network, as well as the district heating supply, water supply and water drainage of the power engineers' village Komsomolske with current population about 17000 persons, and nearby industrial enterprises.

The installed designed capacity is 2400 MW. To date its actual installed electric capacity achieved is 2200 MW, the structure of the equipment 6X175 MW + 3X275 MW + 1X325 MW that ensures the annual electricity production up to 16 billion kWh. Total thermal capacity of the power plant makes 339 Gcal/h.

The basic fuel for TPP is the coal of the grades "A" and "P" which can be combusted by all power plant units. Considering the actual situation with fuel supply and coal stocks available at TPPs and following the agreement with the system operator, the electricity production was stopped at Zmiivska TPP from 11 September 2014 to 01 October 2014.

During this period there will be accumulation of fuel stocks for continuous operation during the autumn-winter period 2014-2015. Currently Centrenergo is searching for the ways to diversify the suppliers of energy fuel, including foreign ones (South Africa, Brazil, Chile, etc.).

Given the temporary stoppage of the thermal power plant, the Company has no plans to reduce the staff. Instead, there are developed measures to preserve the staff during the period of cutback in electricity and commodity products supply. During TPP stoppage and its standby time all technical measures will be taken for conservation of the power units' operating and backup equipment and the team that provides TPP vital functions. Also the maintenance work will be carried out according to the schedule.

Under conditions of the complete power plant stoppage the costs to maintain its viability, the so-called semi-fixed costs, will be formed as labor costs, auxiliary power consumption, cost of repair materials, etc. To compensate for these costs for the period of accumulation of the coal stocks, the Company addressed to the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) with requested to establish an extra charge.

As for the start-up costs, according to the current rules of the Energy Market, they will be reimbursed to the Company in full.

Source: http://www.centrenergo.com/en/newsroom/news/item_266/
Associated URL: http://www.centrenergo.com/en/divisions/zmey/