Ukraine finishing restoration of abandoned power transmission line to Poland
Photo: Energoatom

Ukraine is completing the restoration of the old Soviet interstate transmission line "Khmelnytskyi NPP — Rzeszów" between Ukraine and Poland. The works may end as early as April, the press service of NNEGC "Energoatom" reported on Thursday.

Part of the necessary equipment has been assembled at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant and preparations are being made for commissioning.

"As soon as NPC Ukrenergo fulfills its part of obligations, the line can be put into operation. According to experts, the NPC can finish the work in April," the company reported.

In the future, this power transmission line will give Ukraine an additional opportunity to export and import electricity to EU states.

The 450-kilometer 750 kV transmission line connecting the Khmelnytskyi NPP (Ukraine) with the 750/400 kV Widelka substation (near the city of Rzeszów, Poland) was built in 1984, when Ukraine and Poland were part of the Mir energy system. The supply of electricity through this transmission line stopped in 1992, when Poland, together with Czechoslovakia and Hungary, separated from Ukraine and synchronized their own electrical systems with the European energy system.

In September 2022, Ukrenergo announced a tender for the reconstruction of the transmission line with its conversion to a voltage of 400 kV. It was won by the Odesa corporation of industrial and commercial enterprises "Soyuz" with an offer of UAH 238.6 million ($6.46 million), with which the contract was signed at the end of October.

According to the latest additional agreement, the term of the contract was extended until June 2023.

Since March 16, 2022, the Ukrainian energy system works synchronously with the European continental grid ENTSO-E and is now part of the European energy space.

In March 2023, Ukraine notified the European Union of its readiness to resume electricity exports after an almost six-month break caused by Russian missile strikes.