Rebuilding Ukraine: Lithuanian energy company sends Vilnius CHP-3 equipment to Ukraine

The Lithuanian energy company, Ignitis Gamyba, transfers essential equipment from the Vilnius CHP-3 to Ukraine. Due to security concerns, the specific equipment and destination are not being disclosed.

The company reported that on Monday, July 15.

"Energy infrastructure in war-torn Ukraine was badly damaged. Reconstruction is important to ensure the proper functioning of the country's vital infrastructure. In response to the critical situation, Ignitis Gamyba is taking significant steps – it donates the equipment of the Vilnius Third Thermal Power Station (Vilnius CHP-3), which will help restore the destroyed energy infrastructure in Ukraine," the message reads.

July 15 was announced as the official date of handover of Vilnius CHP-3 equipment. The agreement on the provision of humanitarian aid was signed by Ignitis Gamyba and the operator of the electricity transmission system "Khmelnytskoblenergo," appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers [Ukraine's government – ed.] to receive and distribute humanitarian aid for the energy sector. It will ensure the distribution of equipment.

"We have signed an agreement that will allow us to increase the humanitarian aid provided by the company to Ukraine affected by the war. It was not by chance that we decided to transfer the equipment of the Vilnius CHP-3. In addition to the fact that it will work well in the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, it also meets the needs of the system operator transfers," Ignitis Gamyba CEO, Asta Sungailiene, said.

According to her, Vilnius CHP-3, which belongs to the company, was stopped in 2015 because the operating costs were too high, and the units did not significantly impact the stability of the electricity system. Even though the plant has not been in operation for nine years, the energy company saved its equipment, which has maintained full functionality.

"The plant with a total thermal and electrical capacity of almost 1,000 MW operated for more than 30 years and supplied heat to approximately half of Vilnius. Now this equipment will contribute to the restoration of vital infrastructure in Ukraine," Sungailiene noted.

The company transferred a package of humanitarian aid, including more than 300 pieces of equipment, from the Vilnius CHP-3.

For security reasons, the name and capacity of the equipment or the power plant to which it will be transferred are not disclosed.

For reference:

In March 2024, Russia changed its tactics in attacking Ukraine's energy grid. Instead of focusing on smaller substations and transformers scattered throughout the country, as it had done in 2022-2023 with drone strikes, Russia started targeting larger energy facilities in specific regions using precision ballistic missiles. Since March 22, 2024, there have been five major attacks on thermal and hydroelectric power plants, resulting in power restrictions first for industrial enterprises and then for civilians. This has been covered in detail in Rubryka's article "Ukraine's Energy System: What Is Happening as Russia Increases Attacks?"

During the night of June 20, civil energy infrastructure facilities in four regions of Ukraine were damaged in an attack by the enemy. Russian troops specifically targeted the DTEK thermal power plant, the largest private investor in Ukraine's energy industry. This resulted in three energy workers being injured and extensive damage to the plant's equipment.

Moreover, Rubryka has explored the current state of the Ukrainian energy system and how decentralization could potentially improve it.