EU can cover Slovakia's capacity of electricity imports to Ukraine, Polish Energy Networks says

If Slovakia stops supplying electricity to Ukraine, Poland can increase its imports by redistributing the capacity among other EU countries neighbouring Ukraine.

Source: The technical aspect of a possible increase in electricity imports from Poland to Ukraine was reported by  the Polish electricity transmission system operator Polish Energy Networks (PSE), Ukrinform reports

Details: PSE says that the maximum transmission capacity for electricity exports from the EU to Ukraine and Moldova is currently 2,100 MW. On the EU side, this capacity is distributed among four EU countries neighbouring Ukraine – Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.

Quote: "Poland accounts for 15% (315 MW). Depending on the operating conditions of the connected systems, this value may vary," the Polish side stressed.

The company noted that electricity trade between Poland and Ukraine is currently carried out through the 400 kV Rzeszów-Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant connection.

Transmission capacity on the Rzeszów-Khmelnytskyi NPP connection is available through the so-called daily coordinated auctions (one auction for both sides of the connection). This is the responsibility of the Joint Allocation Office, which is tasked with conducting auctions for the transfer of capacity between EU countries.

Quote: "If Slovakia were to stop providing capacity on the connection with Ukraine, the capacity from this border [Slovakia – ed.], according to the established rules, could be distributed among other [EU – ed.] countries on a synchronous profile, including Poland," PSE said in a statement.

Background:

• Kyiv is expected to stop transiting Russian gas to Slovakia. Slovakia will consider retaliatory measures against Ukraine, such as the termination of backup electricity supplies after 1 January.
• Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico wrote a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in which he criticised Ukraine's refusal to continue transiting Russian gas after 2024.

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