By the decision of the government, quarantine has been eased in Ukraine since May 11. In this regard, DTEK Energy made a decision to terminate a special operating mode for seven of its nine power plants. The epidemiological situation in the regions where DTEK Energy TPPs operate is improving. In this regard, strict isolation for six TPPs of the company and one CHPP has been terminated as of May 12. Including Prydniprovska and Kryvorizka TPPs. Burshtynska and Dobrotvirska TPPs will continue to operate in isolation until May 22. This is due to the fact that in these regions the incidence of coronavirus remains consistently high.
“We have been operating in isolation for over 50 days. Practice showed that that approach was correct: for the entire period of operation in a special mode, not a single TPP employee in isolation fell ill, and our enterprises ensured the reliability of the Ukrainian energy system. I want to say thank you to all those colleagues who were on duty in strict isolation. As a result of your efforts, hospitals, pharmacies, shops operated, and the homes of millions of Ukrainians had light and heat during the quarantine,” Dmytro Sakharuk, General Director of DTEK Energy, said.
During that time, Prydniprovska and Kryvorizka TPPs produced over 425,000,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. From March 21 to May 11, the change in the life of almost half a thousand power engineers, who stood guard over the energy system safety, continued. As a result of their professionalism and dedication, the state quarantine regime took place in houses with light and comfort; hospitals, pharmacies, and laboratories continued to work.
“Thank you so much, I say to everyone who left their homes, lived and worked at work, for the sake of our welfare. This was necessary to prevent coronavirus from spreading among the enterprise employees and avoid a long shutdown of TPPs. For the first time, energy companies found themselves in such non-standard conditions. But we coped with that test with dignity,” Serhii Dehtiarenko, Director of DTEK Kryvorizka TPP, said.
“This is an unprecedented workflow approach and experience that has proven to be effective. The positive result of work in isolation is the plant’s economic work and healthy power engineers,” Anatolii Borychevskyi, Director of DTEK Prydniprovska TPP, emphasized.
From now on, Kryvorizka TPP is gradually returning to the usual operating conditions. Power engineers are ready for stable generation of electricity in the future, while taking care of the health of workers.
Despite the recovery from isolation, DTEK Energy enterprises continue to strictly monitor the health of their employees in compliance with all quarantine measures recommended by the Ministry of Health.
New safety rules have been introduced on the TPP territories. All employees of energy enterprises must use additional personal protective equipment: gloves, masks, or face shields. Until the end of quarantine, the company organizes visual control and temperature measurements at checkpoints and workplaces. An enhanced regime of cleaning and disinfection of premises and vehicles continues; doctors and medical personnel are constantly on duty. The company regularly informs employees about personal hygiene rules and other precautions.
DTEK Energy is closely following the development of events and is adjusting its work in accordance with the requirements of the authorities, recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the World Health Organization.