– This truck has been working for us for many years. Now we don’t need him anymore, but he can certainly be useful in Ukraine, says Johannes Bergum. He is the day-to-day manager of Vevig, the network company of Gudbrandsdal Energi. – They need the most. Vevig is one of the things that many network companies that have problems with stockpiling equipment and spare parts that they now give to Ukraine. The need there is enormous. Russian attacks have destroyed around half of the power grid in the country. At the same time, it will be darker and probably colder in Ukraine in the coming weeks. A father and his son in a dark basement in eastern Ukraine depend on flashlights. Around half of the electricity grid in the country has been destroyed. Photo: ARIS MESSINIS / AFP – They need the most, says Hege Sveaas Fadum. She works in the emergency department in Norway’s Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE). Here she coordinates efforts to help Ukraine with equipment and spare parts for the power grid. – We meet a lot of goodwill, everyone wants to help the Ukrainians with equipment and spare parts, says Hege Sveaas Fadum in NVE. Photo: Kjartan Rørslett / news Urgent need for generators – What is urgent now is to get generators that can be co-loaded quickly. And then you have to get equipment that you can eventually use to rebuild the power supply, she says. The European organization Energy Community says Russia has managed to split up the Ukrainian power grid. Ukraine has asked for international help, and the European Commission has asked companies in Europe to find material they have left over. The online company Fagne in Haugesund has sent this truck with two aggregates. The equipment can be used in hospitals or in work to repair the power grid. Photo: Claudia Mocci / Haugaland kraft Meets goodwill – Everyone is affected by the situation. We meet great goodwill, says Hege Sveaas Fadum. Statnett and other network companies have also sent equipment earlier this year. Now there is a new collection of equipment. Drums with high-voltage cables, transformers, aggregates, circuit breakers, fuses, trucks and tools are among what is sent. Around 100 fuses of this type have been sent from Agder Energi for use in Ukraine. Photo: Agder Energi – What about the preparedness here at home when the grid company sends a lot of equipment to Ukraine? – Previously, we have only seen that they send equipment that they intended to phase out anyway. And we require everyone to carry out their risk assessments and be sure that they have good preparedness in their facility. – But if the equipment that is sent is old, is it bad? – No, we are preoccupied with not sending scrap to Ukraine. We check that it is usable and not for scrapping, that is important. – It is 25 years old, but in good condition, says Arve Hovdenakk in Mørenett in Sunnmøre. The company sends this 133 kilowatt diesel generator to Ukraine. Photo: Mørenett Old but good aggregate In Ørsta on Sunnmøre, Mørenett has found a large aggregate on the trailer of a truck. – It is 25 years old, but we have gone over it and checked that it is in good working order, says division manager Arve Hovdenakk. The unit runs on diesel and can deliver 133 kilowatts of electricity when the usual electricity supply is destroyed. – This corresponds to careful electricity use in 30-40 households, says Hovdenakk. – Useful Ukrainian network companies have sent a long list of equipment they need in the work to repair the power supply after extensive efforts. It contains everything from power masts and high-voltage cables to chainsaws and welding equipment. And they need vehicles, such as a 2009 model Iveco from Gudbrandsdalen. Johannes Bergum and his colleagues in Gudbrandsdalen are happy to send two small trucks and tools to Ukrainian colleagues. Photo: Jonas Oden Ulset / news – At the back of the plane there is a small crane so they can carry posts and various equipment with them. And inside there are tools and space for three men, so it will certainly come in handy, says Johannes Bergum of the online company Vevig in Øyer.
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Equipment from Norway will help Ukraine with power supply – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
