Expert Slams Proposal to Demolish Darnytsia CHP Plant
Energy expert Oleh Popenko has sharply criticized the proposal to demolish Kyiv's Darnytsia Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant and build a new one, labeling the idea a dangerous utopia. He argues that repairing the existing facility, which was damaged by shelling, is a far more practical solution. This debate comes at a critical time for Kyiv's heating infrastructure, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing war.
Time and Cost Comparisons
Repairing the existing Darnytsia CHP plant, which has undergone numerous overhauls in the past, could take between 2 and 8 months. In stark contrast, constructing an entirely new plant would require a minimum of 5 to 7 years. Popenko emphasized that the estimated cost for a new plant, built to modern environmental standards, is around 1.2 billion euros. He questioned whether any investor would be willing to commit such a vast sum to the project.
"It's not a given that some mythical investor will arrive on a blue helicopter and bring 1.2 billion euros here to build a super-CHP plant," stated expert Oleh Popenko.
Popenko also directed criticism at government officials, specifically First Deputy Minister for Community Development Aliona Shkrum. He questioned the roles of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Infrastructure if the President is personally managing preparations for the heating season.
"It turns out that nobody is doing anything, and the President is literally giving them all instructions through manual control," added Popenko.
The heating situation in parts of Kyiv remains dire: over 1,000 apartment buildings in the Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts are still without heat, and sewage systems in many have frozen. These issues underscore the urgent need for decisions to restore heating and improve the capital's infrastructure.
This crisis highlights the complexity of Kyiv's heating supply problems, which demand swift government action. The challenges faced by residents reflect a broader crisis in the country's energy infrastructure, exacerbated by continued attacks. The ongoing debate over whether to repair existing facilities or build new ones requires thorough analysis and balanced decisions to avoid worsening the already critical state of the heating system.