Ukraine bans electricity imports from Russia, Belarus until Oct. 1

Ukraine has officially banned the import of electricity from Belarus and Russia on May 26.

The country’s energy regulator, the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) ruled to keep the restriction in place until Oct. 1. In January and February, Ukraine imported up to 2% of its electricity from Russia and Belarus.

“This winter imports were necessary, but this does not mean that we will not extend the ban further if needed,” said Commission Head Valery Tarasyuk.

The decision will benefit DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, owned by oligarch Rinat Akhmetov.

DTEK controls 70% of Ukraine’s coal market and is responsible for up to 30% of Ukraine’s energy production.

In March 2021, the regulator imposed the maximum possible fine of Hr 5.1 million($182,000) against three DTEK plants for deliberately cutting coal supplies during the coldest weeks of winter, which Tarasyuk called a matter of “national security.”

This is not the first time that Ukraine has banned electricity imports from Russia and Belarus.

After restarting the import of electricity from the two countries in 2019, the regulator halted imports again in April 2020. However, the regulator lifted the ban in December, due to winter power shortages.