Ukraine’s gas infrastructure more protected than energy sites - expert
That’s according to the executive chief of the Energy-Efficient Cities of Ukraine Association, Sviatoslav Pavliuk, who spoke on the air of Ukrainian Radio, reports Ukrinform.
According to the pundit, Ukraine’s gas infrastructure is also vulnerable, but it is more stable than the energy infrastructure.
"Our underground gas storages are moderately protected. What is not protected is the external infrastructure, that is, the pipes that run on the surface. But the underground storage, which is really deep, cannot be affected. However, we have an operating network. The latest season showed that the risk of its impact is lower than that targeting power networks," the expert noted.
At the same time, he recommended that Ukrainians stock up on backup power sources now, and not wait for the onset of winter.
"Gas cannot compensate for the lack of electricity because premises are not technically ready for this, in particular, heating with gas stoves poses a very high risk of suffocation and death. Electricity is also needed for individual gas boilers. So you need to have small backup power elements – either batteries or generators. Think about it now, not in December, when they will cost more," he urged fellow citizens.
As Pavliuk said, Moscow will not calm down looking for options to make the lives of Ukrainians as inconvenient and painful as possible.
At the same time, he emphasized that energy efficiency remains the basis of Ukraine's energy security. "So only by reducing specific consumption and insulating households can we get a surplus of gas, lower the cost, and make consumption significantly lower. At the same time, there was not enough coal last year, and I think that the situation has not improved since then," noted the expert.
As reported, referring to the Minister of Energy German Galushchenko, half of Ukraine’s entire energy system was damaged by Russian strikes. A total of 271 hits targeting energy infrastructure objects were recorded. Some of those objects are wiped out and cannot be restored.
