Japan and Sweden deliver key transformers to Ukraine
Three high-voltage autotransformers will support Ukraine’s grid stability, backed by funding from Japan, Sweden, and UNDP amid ongoing energy challenges.
Image for illustrative purposes
Ukraine: Ukraine has received three HV autotransformers to reinforce its battered energy system, the country’s Energy Ministry announced on 21 May. The delivery, coordinated through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), includes two units funded by Japan and one by Sweden.
The equipment will be handed over to Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s national grid operator. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko emphasised the critical nature of the transformers, especially as Ukraine’s energy infrastructure continues to face direct assaults amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“These autotransformers are essential for stable power supply,” Halushchenko said. “This contribution will help ensure uninterrupted electricity to homes, hospitals, schools, and vital infrastructure.”
Autotransformers regulate voltage between power generation and distribution networks. Their production is time-consuming and complex, often taking up to a year, with only a handful of manufacturers globally. This makes them both expensive and difficult to procure.
Ukrenergo noted that the arrival of these transformers will significantly aid efforts to maintain grid stability across the country. The delivery follows a broader trend: from January to April 2025, Ukraine’s imports of transformers and related equipment reached $338 M, a 2.5-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024. Annual imports for 2024 had already doubled compared to 2023, totaling $596.11 M.
This support comes in addition to deliveries made under the World Bank’s RePower Ukraine initiative, launched in late 2024 to bolster critical infrastructure resilience.
Source: The New Voice of Ukraine
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