By Pavel Polityuk
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine plans to double electricity imports on Thursday after a powerful Russian attack on Ukraine's energy system, the energy ministry said.
The imports are expected to rise to 16,699 megawatt hours (Mwh) versus 7,600 Mwh on Wednesday, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.
The planned imports are close to the record high of 18,649 Mwh, which was recorded at the end of March after the first wave of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector.
The state-run energy company Ukrhydroenergo said on Thursday that its two hydropower plants were severely damaged earlier this week and were no longer in operation after Russian bombardments.
"As of today all hydro generation has suffered devastating damage," it said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app, adding that significant financial resources and efforts would be required to repair the damage and restore the plants' operations.
Ukraine operated 10 hydro power plants prior to the Russian invasion in 2022, which produced about 10% of all Ukrainian electricity.
In 2023, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovska hydropower plant and after latest attacks only seven plants are operating at significantly reduced capacity.
Ukrainian officials have said the country had also lost about 80% of its thermal power generation and now Ukraine has to rely increasingly on its three nuclear power plants, which produce about 60% of its electricity.
Thermal and hydro-electric power generation are needed to keep the levels of supply and consumption balanced during peak hours of energy consumption in the morning and evening.
EMERGENCY HELP
"Today, at Ukraine's request, emergency electricity supplies have already been made from Poland, Romania and Slovakia," the ministry said.
Emergency assistance will also be provided during evening peak hours of electricity consumption, it noted.
Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo said in a separate statement it expected a significant deficit of electricity for almost the entire day.
"Industrial consumption will be limited from 18:00 to 24:00. With an increase in consumption, emergency shutdowns are possible," Ukrenergo said.
Ukraine, a net power exporter before the Russian invasion in 2022, sharply increased imports of electricity and halted exports after a series attacks on the energy system in late March, April and May.