On February 07, 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided the Government of Ukraine with a mobile gas turbine power plant with a total output capacity of 28 MW. This aid will help Ukraine increase the electricity supply to homes, hospitals, schools, critical infrastructure providers, and other institutions.
USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, Ukraine’s Minister of Energy German Galushchenko, and other Government of Ukraine officials jointly announced USAID’s delivery of the mobile gas turbine power plant.
Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, and particularly since October 2022, the russian federation has deliberately targeted civilian heating, power, and gas infrastructure in an effort to weaponize the winter. Ukraine has demonstrated tremendous resilience in the wake of these attacks, with utility workers routinely risking their lives to repair the damage, often within hours of air strikes.
Since the start of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, USAID has worked closely with the Government of Ukraine, including the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, and energy sector enterprises, to ensure operational continuity of the country’s electricity, gas, and heating networks. The U.S. Government handed over a gas turbine mobile power plant to enhance Ukraine’s power system generation capacities and ensure critical infrastructure and civilians have light and heat during this challenging winter. USAID will continue helping Ukraine to reduce the effects of massive attacks on energy infrastructure and ensure power supplies to the Ukrainian population and businesses to survive this winter and win.
This mobile power plant manufactured by General Electric, a U.S.-based company, is one of many examples of USAID assistance to Ukraine’s energy sector since the start of the russian federation’s full-scale invasion. USAID has already delivered more than 1,700 generators to 22 oblasts across Ukraine, with other aid on the way. These generators ensure electricity and heating for schools, hospitals, accommodation centers for internally-displaced persons, district heating companies, and water systems if and when power is knocked out by russia’s air strikes.
USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman commented, “The U.S. Government is delivering critical assistance to help Ukraine and the Ukrainian people get through the winter and win the war. USAID provided this American-made, gas turbine mobile power plant to the Government of Ukraine to help supply electricity to homes, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure providers. It will strengthen Ukraine’s energy security as the russian federation continues to target critical infrastructure. USAID will continue supporting Ukraine to win the war and win the peace.”
“Installing this turbine will be the first practical step in implementing the Strategy of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine on decentralisation of Ukraine’s energy system and development of small-scale generation networks in our country. This will allow us to ensure more reliable generation, especially serving the needs of critical and social infrastructure, while also enhancing its security, in view of possible war-related challenges and threats,” said Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko during the acceptance ceremony of the mobile gas turbine unit.
The Energy Minister thanked the U.S. for the substantial assistance Ukraine has already received and continues to receive. “We are truly grateful to the American people and the U.S. Government for their continued support in every aspect of this terrible war. Every day we receive vital aid, including equipment and materials to help rebuild our energy system,” Minister Galushchenko added.
To date, USAID has invested $400 million in Ukraine’s heating infrastructure to help the Ukrainian people get through winter. This assistance will benefit up to seven million Ukrainians by supporting repairs and maintenance of pipes and other equipment necessary to deliver heating to homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses across Ukraine.
This support builds on over two decades of support to Ukraine to strengthen the country’s energy security.
The U.S. Government has responded to the russian federation’s brutal war against Ukraine by delivering $13 billion in direct budget support to the Government of Ukraine to help maintain critical government services, such as paying first responders’ salaries and meeting pension obligations to support vulnerable citizens and maintaining hospitals. In addition, the U.S. Government has provided more than $1.9 billion in humanitarian assistance to millions of persons, both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries, since February 2022.