45 million euros in support
Germany is helping Ukraine rebuild its power grid
May 9, 2024, 5:32 p.m
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In recent weeks, Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure more frequently. Parts of the country’s power grid are severely damaged. The federal government is now helping the state energy supplier Ukrenergo.
Germany is helping Ukraine to build and expand the power grid that was damaged after numerous Russian attacks. A corresponding agreement was signed during the visit of Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze to Kiev, her ministry announced. “Ukraine can only survive in war and rebuild with a functioning power supply,” said the SPD politician. That’s exactly why Russia has deliberately bombed the energy infrastructure in recent weeks. “Russia cannot and will not be successful with this.”
As part of the German-Ukrainian energy cooperation, the state development bank KfW signed a grant agreement for 45 million euros with the state energy supplier Ukrenergo on behalf of the Federal Development Ministry.
More imports
The funds are intended to repair damaged parts of the power grid infrastructure and make the power grid more protected, more efficient and therefore less vulnerable to attacks. A further goal is therefore the ability to connect to the European power grid. Ukraine wants to roughly double its electricity imports after a serious Russian attack on the energy system, as the government in Kiev announced. Imports are expected to rise to 16,699 megawatt hours (MWh), close to 7,600 MWh on Wednesday, the Energy Ministry said on messaging app Telegram.
Development Minister Schulze met, among others, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko in Kiev. Topics also included German and international support in training skilled workers and strengthening communities for reconstruction. Another focus was the preparation of the reconstruction conference for Ukraine, which is to be held in Berlin on June 11th and 12th. All important international supporters should meet here to strengthen the economy and society in Ukraine.