MP Kucherenko: Ukraine will try to postpone the start of the heating season as much as possible

Ukraine will try to postpone the heating season due to gas shortages. Archive photo NikVesti

Due to Russian shelling in Ukraine, they will try to start the heating season as late as possible.

This was stated by MP and former Minister of Housing and Communal Services Oleksii Kucherenko in the programme «Superposition».

«We have to face the truth — there will be problems with gas, given the recent blows to production. There are problems with the gas balance, and we will lack it. Gas will be saved. Therefore, the later the heating season starts, the lower the costs will be. That is why they will try to push back the start of the season by all possible means», said Oleksii Kucherenko.

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The politician also commented on the reaction of Ukrainians to the recent massive shelling. In his opinion, society is too emotional about the situation.

«There is a war going on! Have we forgotten what the winters of 2022-2023 were like? Last year, there were almost no strikes on the energy sector, and many people relaxed. That's why people are now very nervous about interruptions in electricity, water or transport. But we are at war, and the enemy is powerful. The heating season is just beginning, we need to prepare psychologically and keep ourselves in check,» the MP said.

As a reminder, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration noted that the start of the heating season in Mykolaiv is to be postponed and the heating will be launched later. This is explained as a cost-saving measure.

Vitalii Kim also said that Mykolaiv would not be able to complete the project to build block-modular boiler houses, for which the government has allocated UAH 1.1 billion, before the start of the heating season.

In June, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allocated 1.1 billion hryvnias to prepare Mykolaiv for the next heating season. The city plans to install new boiler houses to replace the damaged CHP plant. This includes the purchase of 18 modular boiler houses with a total capacity of over 70 megawatts. According to the Prime Minister, this will ensure heat in the homes of the townspeople during the coming winter.

As of 4 September, it became known that «Mykolaivoblteploenergo» will receive 15 cogeneration units with a total capacity of 27.5 MW as part of a World Bank project. In total, the World Bank will provide $116 million to restore heating systems and support the energy resilience of seven cities whose critical infrastructure has been damaged by Russian attacks.

As you know, on the night of 16 February this year, Russian troops attacked Mykolaiv with drones, damaging a critical infrastructure facility.

It was also reported that a modern cogeneration complex based on gas piston plants with a capacity of up to 80 MW is planned to be built at Mykolaiv CHP. The new equipment is expected to reduce heat costs.