Government continues to implement energy strategy for Ukraine

Today’s launch of the first unit at the Dnister Hydroelectric Power Plant is a major step in the implementation of Ukraine’s energy strategy for the period through 2030.

"The government’s policy is aimed at making this energy strategy a reality," Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said during a working visit to the Chernivtsi oblast.

According to the Prime Minister, one important element of this strategy is renewable sources of energy, which includes hydroelectric power.

Yulia Tymoshenko also added that the government will do everything possible to reduce consumption of natural gas and coal and cut carbon emissions, “and to ensure that our energy is optimal in price, and that we are competitive in the world markets."

The first unit of the Dnister Hydroelectric Power Plant was launched today, December 22. The second and third units will be launched in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

The Dnister HPP, which is being built in the Chernivtsi oblast on the Dnister River , is one of the largest pumped storage electric power plants in the world.. Construction began in 1983. Its main function is to regulate the frequency and schedule of the load on the Ukrainian electricity system and build an emergency reserve of electricity.

According to the project, it will have an electric output of 2268 megawatts in generating mode and 2947 megawatts in pumping mode. The station will have seven identical pumping units.

The overall cost of the project is 5.8 billion hryvnia.