MOSCOW, November 24. /TASS/. Proper power capacity of Crimea currently covers 35-40% of the peninsula’s needs, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday in an interview with radio station Vesti FM.
"Currently, thanks to transferring mobile gas turbine power plants, we have overcome the absolute zero energy supply to Crimea on Sunday, we have launched about 300 megawatts, thus ensuring energy supply of the crucial infrastructure first. Now we cover, including the maximum consumption, 35-40%," Novak said. Crimea currently needs about 1,000 megawatts per day, he added.
Earlier Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said that Crimea was provided with only 30% of the required power supply.
Novak said that relocating power plants to Crimea took place from March to June of last year — 13 mobile gas turbine power plants, each with capacity of 25 MW.
"I would like to remind you that Crimea needs 1,000 MW daily on average in the current weather conditions. When it is cold, the required consumption is 1,100-1,300 MW, provided the whole economy, all businesses are operating," the Minister said.
He also recalled that last year 1,500 diesel power plants were transferred to Crimea.
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"It also helps tremendously — provides power for hospitals, schools, water supply facilities, water conditioning and purification facilities, communication. This is significantly more expensive, it does not have to operate continuously," Novak said, noting that otherwise there would be problems with crucial infrastructure.
Novak also said that additional 300 diesel generators will be delivered to Crimea. "We certainly take into account possibility or worse outcome. Now we relocating diesel generator sets to Crimea to meet the need to the possible maximum, especially in those villages where there is no energy system, which are not reaches by the power in the mode of temporarily power cuts," Novak said.
"Today we made the decision — Ilyushin Il-76with 300 diesel generator sets flies to Crimea," the Minister added.
Novak added that at the same time, construction of energy bridge to Crimea is going according to the schedule, first phase will be commissioned in December.
"All the notions that construction works are taking too long are completely unfounded. On the contrary, [the projects is going — TASS] in accordance with the schedule that we have received as part of design documentation," the Minister said.
On November 20, power lags were damaged in Ukraine, presumably because of the explosive device.
"On November 20 220 kV "Kakhovskaya Titan" and 30 kV Melitopol-Dzhankoy power transmission lines were damaged, presumably by an explosive device. The lines are located on the territory of Ukraine. Until the circumstances are clarified the Russian Energy Ministry constantly monitors the situation with electricity supply to the Crimean consumers," he Russian Ministry of Energy press service said.