The UK will donate more than 500 mobile generators to help keep
the lights on in Ukraine, the government has announced today.
The generators have been directly requested by President
Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK in recent
discussions with the Prime Minister and Business Secretary .
They will provide much needed energy to essential facilities
across Ukraine, including hospitals, shelters and water treatment
plants which have lost power during the ongoing Russian invasion.
The UK Government has created a dedicated
taskforce, including distribution network operators and the
Energy Networks Association, to source and send
the generators to Ukraine which could provide enough to
power around 20,000 homes or equivalent buildings.
This will provide a timely boost to Ukraine’s war efforts,
safeguarding Ukrainian people’s access to energy, ensuring that
essential services can continue to run and weakening Russia’s
attempts to strike at Ukraine’s power supply.
Prime Minister said:
“We are seeing the tragic consequences in Ukraine from Putin’s
grave mistake every day, and we will continue to do everything we
can to support Ukraine’s resistance against this illegal invasion
through economic, diplomatic and humanitarian measures, as well
as providing defensive military equipment.
“We will now be sending generators to ease the difficulties
caused by the current power outages and help keep vital services
running so the people of Ukraine can continue to defend their
country.”
Business & Energy Secretary said:
“Sending portable electricity generators to Ukraine will help
keep essential services running, weaken Putin’s attempts to
cripple Ukraine’s power supply, and help support the
extraordinarily brave Ukrainian response to the Kremlin’s war
waging.”
Foreign Secretary said:
“Putin’s inhumane efforts to knock out Ukraine’s power supplies
are wreaking more misery on millions of innocent civilians. The
UK is stepping up and providing generators that will keep
hospitals running,and ensure the supply of food and water. We
will keep the lights on in Ukraine.
“We are playing a leading role in the humanitarian effort,
delivering vital supplies and life-saving medical aid to help
those Ukrainians most in need.”
The generators will be provided by UK commercial suppliers, who
will provide their available stocks of generators to the effort.
It is expected that suppliers will be able to deliver a large
proportion of these generators to Ukraine via neighbouring
countries.
The Ukrainian Government and the country’s energy networks will
distribute the generators to areas of need across the country,
ensuring they reach those who need power the most.
Notes to editors
Members of the Ukraine Electricity Network Support Task Group
include:
- Energy Networks Association
- Electricity North West
- Western Power Distribution
- UK Power Networks
- Northern PowerGrid
- Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
- Scottish Power Energy Networks
- National Grid Electricity System Operator
- National Grid Transmission System Operator
