KIEV, November 22. /TASS/. Ukrainian police have sealed off the area where electricity transmission towers were damaged in a blast and preparations for repair works are now under way, the Kherson branch of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry told TASS on Sunday.
"The place of the incident has been blocked and we’re controlling the situation. Repair teams are being admitted to the place. Preparations for repairs are under way. The time of the repair commencement is an issue that should not be addressed to us," an Interior Ministry representative said.
The Kherson Region branch of Ukraine’s Emergencies Service could not specify the time when the repairs would start.
"We have no information. Police are staying there, without letting anyone in or out," the service’s spokesman said.
All Crimean populated areas were left without electricity overnight to November 22. Electricity supplies were terminated via all the four power transmission lines supplying electricity to Crimea from Ukraine.
Two power transmission lines went out of service on Friday after electricity towers were damaged while the other two power lines were blown up last night, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said.
The Crimean authorities have introduced an emergency regime on the peninsula.
All Crimean cities supplied with electricity - emergency headquarters
All large cities on the Crimean peninsula are supplied with electric power after electricity supplies from Ukraine were completely cut off, Crimea’s First Vice-Premier Mikhail Sheremet said on Sunday.
"We actually have all the cities connected [to power supply]," said Sheremet who heads the headquarters for eliminating the consequences of the emergency situation on the Black Sea peninsula.
Powerful electricity supply generators will be sent to the regions experiencing difficulties with electric power supply," he added.
The Crimean first vice-premier earlier said that schedules of disconnecting households from electricity and water supply would be introduced in Crimea due to the shortage of local power generating capacities.
The Crimean authorities have connected all social facilities in Crimea to backup power generators.
Fuel for electric power generators in Crimea to suffice for at least 30 days - emergency headquarters
Fuel stocks for backup electric power supply sources in Crimea will suffice for at least 30 days, Crimea’s First Vice-Premier Mikhail Sheremet said on Sunday.
"We have fuel reserves. No doubt, we understand that we depend on weather and the ferry to some extent. But nonetheless we can work calmly during 30 days," he said.
Crimea short of 450 MW electric power supply - minister
Crimea’s own electric power generation covers less than a half of the peninsula’s needs for electricity, Crimean Fuel and Energy Minister Sergei Yegorov said after a meeting of the emergency headquarters on Sunday.
"The morning maximum consumption in the Crimean federal district is about 800 MW at such air temperatures. We have 350 MW of our own electricity generation and are short of another 450 MW. That is why, schedules of temporary electricity disconnections for these 450 MW will be introduced," he said.
The schedules of electricity blackouts will be brought to the notice of local residents every two hours, he said.