"Not catastrophic": Expert discusses the state of Ukraine's energy sector and highlights what should remain untouched.

Despite the cautiously optimistic forecasts from energy experts regarding power outages during the autumn-winter period, Russia continues to bombard major cities and infrastructure daily. This week, Ukraine even experienced the return of emergency power outages in several regions.

"Telegraph" asked Alexander Kharchenko, director of the Energy Research Center, about the current state of Ukraine's energy sector as it enters the third month of autumn, whether emergency teams are managing to repair damaged energy facilities before the frost, and when mini-nuclear power plants might appear in large cities in Ukraine.

— What is the overall state of the energy sector today – is the situation catastrophic?

— It cannot be described as catastrophic. On the contrary, in light of the ongoing attacks (by Russians on Ukrainian energy facilities. — Ed.), I believe that the current state of Ukraine's energy sector is a prime example of effective resistance to strikes and efforts to develop it.

Therefore, the situation today is absolutely manageable with the level of generating capacity we have after repairs. Moreover, repairs are ongoing constantly. Following the restoration of damaged facilities, which have been successfully repaired to date, consumers are being fully supplied. We genuinely have no restrictions (on energy supply. — Ed.).

And I sincerely hope that with a reasonably positive development of events, there will be no restrictions in the near future when massive attacks by the Russian Federation begin. We can cover the current consumption volume.

— How has the dismissal of the leadership of "Ukrenergo" affected the situation in the energy sector?

— You know, I don’t think the issue can be framed as whether someone’s dismissal improves or worsens the situation. That’s not how it works. Personnel changes are a normal process, in principle. Naturally, staff changes occur periodically. The question lies in how this dismissal took place.

Because, judging by the statements of very respected members of the Supervisory Board, they were under political pressure, and the procedure essentially occurred in a way that destroyed the corporate governance model. Thus, this undoubtedly creates certain financial problems for "Ukrenergo".

However, it can be said that the Cabinet of Ministers has tools to prevent these problems if they work on them very carefully and intensively.

— What does the country need to do tactically and strategically regarding hydropower to improve the situation in the energy sector?

— I don’t want to offend anyone, but perhaps my answer will sound a bit strange: "Leave it alone!". In reality, hydropower is currently one of the pillars of Ukraine's energy system. Because, in fact, the maneuverable part of the energy sector is primarily hydropower. And it is currently working very actively both on restoring damaged capacities and on physically protecting facilities.

A huge amount of work is being done there. And God willing, it continues exactly as it should! There is "Ukrhydroenergo", a company that is well-managed and knows what to do. Therefore, I can only characterize the ongoing work positively.

— Should the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station be restored?

— Look, God willing, we can go there and reclaim that territory. Its restoration is inevitable. There is no scenario in which the dam will not be restored for various reasons.

I am absolutely confident that this hydroelectric power station will be renewed. Naturally, it will be restored using a different technology than the one used to build this HPP. The new station will be more modern, more efficient, better configured, and so on. But I have no doubts that it will be restored.

— In the context of developing domestic nuclear generation and decentralizing electricity production, the question is: when can Ukraine realistically move towards building and launching mini-nuclear power plants?

— So-called small modular reactors are still a research technology. There is not a single working example in the world. There isn’t even a commercial prototype of a working reactor.

Given the current processes, the first examples that will be built are expected to appear and start operating in about 7-8 years.

Therefore, approximately 3-5 years after the first such stations become operational (as technologies will still be developed), the cost of these projects will become clearer, etc. Then they will begin to build serial nuclear facilities, provided everything goes well with them, that everything works as planned and is built precisely as currently intended.

Consequently, within a horizon of about 12-15 years, small modular reactors may indeed emerge, and this will be a very promising technology for Ukraine.

— Completing two power units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant — is it a tactical necessity or a potential source of misappropriation of state funds by "Energoatom"?

— This is a very debatable question regarding the completion of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant units. I am sure that there is currently no readiness to build anything there.