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Water level in Dniester Reservoir stable but low due to Russian attacks

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Water level in Dniester Reservoir stable but low due to Russian attacks
Energy infrastructure damage in Ukraine caused by Russian attacks. (Courtesy: DTEK)

Ukrainian hydropower company Ukrhydroenergo reports that the situation regarding operation of the Dniester hydropower project has stabilized and intensive operation of the reservoir has stopped, but the water level is low.

As a result of the attacks of the Russian Federation on energy facilities and the emergency situation regarding operation of the unified energy system of Ukraine, since Feb. 24, 2022, the operating regime of the reservoirs of the 702 MW Dniester hydroelectric complex has been carried out taking into account the need to cover the electricity deficit.

In regulating the flow of the river, the Dniester hydropower project is guided by the decision of the Interdepartmental Commission at the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine on establishing reservoir operation modes and the tasks and instructions of the dispatching service of NEC Ukrenergo, ensuring the coverage of peak, daily and emergency loads.

Since the middle of April 2024, discharges from the Dniester hydropower plant have been a forced measure to maintain stable operation of the energy system. And since May 15, discharges from the Dniester reservoir have corresponded to those established by the Interdepartmental Commission.

At the same time, during May, weather conditions — with a lack of precipitation and high air temperature — led to a significant decrease in the water content of the Dniester River and its tributaries. The inflow to the Dniester Reservoir is about 30% of the norm, Ukrhydroenergo said.

As of 8:00 a.m. on May 28, 2024, the water level mark in the upper bay is 114.38 m and the water inflow to the Dniester Reservoir is 90 m3/s. However, the level of water in the upper bay is not critical, Ukrhydroenergo said. For comparison, in 2022 it was 112.57 m.

The situation has stabilized, and intensive operation of the reservoir has stopped. In accordance with the approved Rules for the Operation of Reservoirs of the Dniester Complex Hydroelectric Unit, to provide water to the settlements located below, the Dniester hydropower project is required to produce an average daily flow of at least 110 m3/s. Given that inflow is lower than normal for this period of the year, operation of the reservoir may continue, and it is expected that it may amount to several centimeters per day. 

In February 2024, Hydro Review reported that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a €200 million (US$216.6 million) loan package for Ukrhydrenergo to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security at a time of repeated attacks on civil power infrastructure by Russia.

Ukrhydroenergo is the largest hydropower generation company in Ukraine, 100% of the shares of which belong to the state. The company operates 10 hydropower plants on the Dnipro and Dniester rivers with total installed capacity of 6,208 MW.