There's a capacity shortage again – new power plants will be built in Crimea

A new 180-megawatt power plant will be built in Crimea within the next year and a half., reported the region's Sergei Aksenov, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.

_{To mark the 10th anniversary of the peninsula's reunification with Russia in 2019, two thermal power plants—Balaklava and Tavricheskaya—were launched here, with a combined capacity of 940 megawatts. At the opening ceremony, Energy Minister Alexander Novak asserted thatCrimeans will be provided with almost double backup of their own energy supply and the opportunity to develop their industrial enterprises" However, it now turns out that there is still not enough capacity.}

According to Aksyonov, Crimea is counting not only on new power plants but also on receiving energy from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the future.

«An additional 180 megawatts will be built, plus or minus. Design work has already begun, and a contractor has been selected.We have an understanding of what to do, so we are working in this direction.

At the same time, I would like to remind you that Once the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reaches its design capacity, it will be able to fully meet Crimea's electricity needs. But in this case, the decision has been made, and we are building an additional 180 megawatts in the Republic of Crimea."- said Aksenov.

In addition, according to his information, additional reserve capacity will be built on the peninsula to cover energy costs during periods of peak consumption:

«This will be for the summer period, When equipment is turned on, primarily air conditioners, including industrial ones, the consumption volume in the Southern Federal District goes through the roof, the limits were chosen last year, therefore Any additional reserves will be used. The Russian Government has working projects for the construction of new generating capacity.».

_{It's worth noting that Crimea's power plants are priority targets for enemy attacks. Kyiv cut off power to the peninsula back in 2014, plunging it into darkness in retaliation for its annexation by Russia. The power bridge across the Kerch Strait partially mitigated the situation.}