Cherkasy Teplokomunenergo Halts Electricity Production Due to Gas Shortage

On April 1, the municipal enterprise Cherkasy Teplokomunenergo announced that it had halted electricity production due to the absence of a mechanism for obtaining gas necessary for thermal energy enterprises, which is crucial for ensuring electrical generation. The company reported that this decision became necessary in light of new government regulations.

In its announcement, Cherkasy Teplokomunenergo emphasized that, as part of fulfilling the President of Ukraine's directive, a project was implemented to build a distributed generation network, which includes 18 cogeneration units and 28 kilometers of network. This system is capable of generating 20 megawatts of electricity, accounting for 5% of the total electricity consumed in the regional center. Thanks to this initiative, Cherkasy managed to endure an extremely harsh winter, marked by blackouts, without shutting down critical infrastructure facilities.

However, recent amendments to government resolutions No. 812 and 222 prohibit thermal energy enterprises from using gas for electricity production. This has forced Cherkasy Teplokomunenergo to cease operations of its cogeneration units and prepare them for conservation. The company's statement indicated that this would lead to financial losses for the community, as failure to preserve the equipment could result in the city losing expensive installations.

The director of Cherkasy Teplokomunenergo, Pavlo Karas, clarified in an interview with Interfax Ukraine that the enterprise previously received gas under special obligations (PSO) according to two resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine: No. 812, which provided gas for heat production, and No. 222, which ensured gas for electricity production. However, he stated that the possibility of purchasing gas for electricity production has now been closed off.

"We cannot use gas designated for heat production for electricity generation for sale, as this is prohibited by resolution No. 812," Karas noted. He also added that the enterprise cannot purchase gas at market prices for electricity production because there is no mechanism for this. Thus, the only option left was to stop cogeneration.

Karas further explained that the cogeneration unit operates simultaneously for the production of both heat and electricity. Currently, the enterprise is forced to use a gas boiler to supply heat to budgetary institutions in the city that have not yet been disconnected, as well as to provide Cherkasy residents with hot water. "If the cogeneration unit does not operate for three months, a major overhaul of the engine will be necessary, as this equipment has its own specifics," he added.

Karas expressed his dissatisfaction with the government's decisions, stating that he finds the logic behind these actions completely incomprehensible. "It seems that the decisions were made hastily and without considering the long-term consequences," he concluded.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that electricity producers in Ukraine have repeatedly reported forced shutdowns due to the inability to purchase gas, which threatens the stability of the country's energy sector.