It takes at least 5 years and 1 billion UAH to build new hydroelectric power station, - Ukrhydroenergo

It will take at least 5 years of 24/7 operation to build a new hydroelectric power plant to replace the Kakhovka HPP destroyed by the Russians.

This was stated by Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota, Censor.NET reports concerning the Kakhovka HPP | Staff Info telegram channel.

He said that the first thing to do now is to rebuild the damaged dam to provide water to the population, agriculture and industry.

Syrota promised that the first relevant design decisions would be made today.

Read more: During day, water level in Kakhovka reservoir decreased by almost 2.5 meters, - "Ukrhydroenergo"

After liberation, the water will be collected at the upper reservoirs to fill the Kakhovka reservoir as soon as possible.

"It takes at least 5 years to build a new plant - 24/7. This will require at least 1 billion. After all, we do not yet know the full extent of the damage: not only the station, but also the crossings, water, and gas supply have been damaged," said Syrota.

He added that the project for the station's location is already under development.

Also read: Occupied Oleshky flooded by 90%, Russians do not allow locals to evacuate, - Mayor Ryshchuk

As Censor.NET reported, on the morning of 6 June, it became known that the Russian occupiers had blown up the Kakhovka HPP. The explosion completely destroyed the engine room, and the station cannot be restored.

Evacuations have begun in the region. As many as 80 settlements could be flooded. A total of 16,000 people are in the critical zone on the right bank of the Dnipro.

The explosion of the Kakhovka HPP threatens the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, but the situation is now under control. The explosion could also cause an imbalance in Ukraine's energy system. Fields in southern Ukraine could turn into desert.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, no one other than Russia had the technical capability to blow up the HPP. The NYT interviewed experts and also concluded that the plant was blown up from the inside. The telegram channel of the 205th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Russian Federation, which is suspected of blowing up the dam, posted about the mining of the hydroelectric power plant and the possibility of blowing it up in October 2022.

The Kremlin claims that the Russians were not involved in the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP and puts the blame on the Ukrainians.