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Energy Sector of Crimea

History of the establishment of the electric power industry of the Crimean Peninsula — from the first municipal power stations of Simferopol (1896) and Sevastopol (1897–1899) to the integration of the Crimean power system with mainland Ukraine (Kakhovka HPP, 1962) and the peninsula's critical dependence on Ukrainian electricity power flows until 2014.

Overview

Electric power stations from the first years of the peninsula's electrification were the core component of the Crimean energy sector. The oil and gas sector of energy in Crimea began developing only in the 1970s (the first natural gas field was discovered in November 1960, the Hlybovske gas condensate field prepared in 1966, industrial gas extraction starting in the 1970s). Until the mid-20th century, electrical energy from local thermal power stations was the main driver of the Crimean economy; energy supply traditionally remained the peninsula's most painful problem.

The first Crimean power station (Simferopol, 1896) lit only the theater and a few central streets. By 1911, the city was served by two small power stations (involving foreign investors) for 25 industrial enterprises. Development of the tram network (Belgian investor-concessionaires) and industrial growth in the early 1930s increased power demand, forcing the laying of a high-voltage line from the Sevastopol State Regional Power Station (DRES).

In Sevastopol, the first power station was built in 1897–1899, along with the first tram line; after the civil war, the municipal station and the power station of the Marine Plant (1921), Balaklava (July 1922), and Northern (September 1923) began operating. The presence of several stations allowed the creation in 1923 of the municipal trust "Elektrotrans," later transformed into "Krymenerho." Electrification was also required by the Black Sea Fleet.

Yalta received a small municipal power station (700 horsepower) only in 1904; Alushta and southern coast settlements were lit by kerosene lanterns until 1914. Already in the first year of Crimean Oblast's transfer to Ukraine (1954), Ukrainian authorities raised the issue of building substations in Hurzuf and Alushta; the draft resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers provided for expanding the Novo-Krymska DRES (Simferopol) and lines Kerch–Feodosia (1956) and Simferopol–Feodosia (1957).

The decisive year was 1962: with the completion of Kakhovka HPP construction, the 220 kV power line Kakhovka–Dzhankoy Outdoor Switchgear of Simferopol DRES was commissioned, connecting the Crimean power grid with the unified power system of the south of the country. In 1962–1965, power lines Dzhankoy–Feodosia (220 kV), Saky–Yevpatoria, Staryi Krym–Sudak, and Staryi Krym–Planerske (110 kV) were introduced, alongside substations Dzhankoy (220 kV) and Moynaky/Donuzlav (110 kV); during 2003–2011, the Simferopol–Sevastopol power line was upgraded from 220 kV to 330 kV.

Before the seizure of Crimea by the rf in February 2014, over 6.3 billion kWh of electricity was transmitted to the Crimean power grid, of which over 5.0 billion came from mainland Ukraine (from Zaporizhzhia TPP, Zaporizhzhia NPP, and the Mykolaiv Oblast power system) over four high-voltage power lines. The author concludes: the peninsula's economy can function fully only with power supply from mainland Ukraine, and only de-occupation of Crimea can definitively solve the water and power supply problems.

Key Details / Subtopics

  • First power stations: Simferopol (1896), Sevastopol (1897–1899), Yalta (1904, 700 hp); participation of foreign (Belgian) investors.
  • Tram and power demand: Belgian concessionaires laid tram tracks in Simferopol (from railway station to center, later two more); high-voltage power line from Sevastopol DRES.
  • "Krymenerho": creation in 1923 of the municipal trust "Elektrotrans" (later "Krymenerho") based on several Sevastopol stations (municipal, Marine Plant, Balaklava 1922, Northern 1923).
  • Fleet electrification: Black Sea Fleet infrastructure required electrification of Sevastopol.
  • Southern Coast: Yalta (power station 1904), Alushta and settlements until 1914 on kerosene lanterns; Ukrainian substations in Hurzuf and Alushta (1954+).
  • Integration with Ukraine: Novo-Krymska DRES, power line Kerch–Feodosia (1956), Simferopol–Feodosia (1957); Kakhovka HPP and power line Kakhovka–Dzhankoy (1962) as the junction point with the UkrSSR power grid.
  • Dependence on mainland (until 2014): over 5.0 billion kWh from mainland Ukraine (Zaporizhzhia TPP, Zaporizhzhia NPP, Mykolaiv Oblast) via four power lines.