AECOM to advise Ukraine on restoring stricken hydro-power

US-based infrastructure consultancy AECOM has announced a partnership with Ukraine鈥檚 main hydropower generating company Ukrhydroenergo to attempt to restore some of the countries destroyed hydro-electricity facilities before winter sets in.

The partnership, which was signed on the sidelines of this week鈥檚 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, Germany, attempts to identify and execute on projects in support of the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine鈥檚 hydropower assets, systems, and capabilities.

鈥淭oday, the restoration, protection and preparation of energy facilities for winter remain a priority for Ukraine,鈥 said Ihor Syrota, Chief Executive Officer of Ukrhydroenergo. 鈥淥ur partnership and cooperation will be an important step in restoring the damaged Ukrainian energy infrastructure in general and hydropower generation in particular.鈥

Ihor Syrota, Chief Executive Officer at Ukrhydroenergo, and Manav Kumar, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Global Head of Public Affairs at AECOM. Photo: AECOM

Before the Russian invasion, hydro-electricity was the third biggest power source in Ukraine (after fossil fuels and atomic energy), supplying around 10% of the country鈥檚 electricity.

However, since the invasion, Ukrhydroenergo says more than 50 Russian attacks on infrastructure and assets have taken offline 2.5GW of the country鈥檚 6.3GW of hydropower capacity.

In June 2023, Ukraine鈥檚 largest hydro-electro power plant, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station was forced to halt electricity production after it suffered a strike by Russian forces. In the same month, a significant portion of the 30-meter-high Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River which included the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was also destroyed. Ukraine accused Russia of destroying the dam. A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the destruction and blamed 鈥渢he Kiev regime.鈥

AECOM said that it intended to use its decades of experience in the development and design of hydropower and dam projects, providing integrated planning, feasibility, design, environmental studies, and other services to help restore Ukraine鈥檚 critical infrastructure.

But with Ukrainian cities under repeated attack from Russian missiles and drones, the company did not say how it intended to ensure any restoration was protected from future Russian strikes.

Since 2023 AECOM has provided program management advisory and technical advisory support for Ukraine鈥檚 recovery efforts.

The company is already acting as infrastructure delivery advisor to the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development for the reconstruction of Ukraine and the reconstruction delivery partner for Kyiv Boryspil International Airport.

鈥淗ydropower is vital to Ukraine鈥檚 energy supply, and our decades of expertise in this key renewable energy source positions us to support the nation in delivering and sustaining resilient electricity to millions,鈥 said Troy Rudd, AECOM鈥檚 chief executive officer. 鈥淎s leaders in the dams and reservoirs sectors, our teams look forward to bringing the necessary energy advisory and disaster recovery skills to meet Ukrhydroenergo鈥檚 complex hydropower objectives.鈥

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