European Commission completes logistical operation to transfer thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine

The European Commission has carried out one of its largest coordinated logistics operations, handing over to Ukraine a complete set of thermal power plant (TPP) equipment from Lithuania.

Ukraine received equipment for a thermal power plant through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy reported on Monday.

"The complex operation, which lasted 11 months, involved 149 equipment deliveries totaling 2,399 tonnes. Of these, 40 were oversized cargo, including extremely heavy transformers and stators weighing approximately 172 tonnes each," the ministry noted.

The support of the Polish Government Agency for Strategic Reserves played a key role in ensuring the complex transportation of these components, the report says.

The Ministry of Energy explained that the equipment provided helped carry out emergency repairs in several regions of Ukraine where energy infrastructure was significantly damaged as a result of Russian strikes.

"We are extremely grateful to our partners from Lithuania, Poland, and the entire European community, who helped us obtain this critically needed equipment. It has helped restore critical energy capacity," said Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Energy Roman Andarak, as quoted by the press service.

According to the European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, the delivery of this power plant is currently the most demanding logistical operation in the EU.

"I thank Lithuania, Poland, Romania and all partners who ensured the success of this colossal operation," she added.

As noted by the Ministry of Energy, this logistics operation is part of the EU's comprehensive response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, coordinated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). To date, the EU's overall support to Ukraine's energy sector has helped millions of people, including the delivery of 9,500 generators and 7,200 transformers through the UCPM.

In total, the European Commission has allocated over EUR 1.2 billion for humanitarian aid programs in Ukraine and delivered over 160,000 tonnes of aid.