AECOM to advise Ukraine on restoring stricken hydro-power

The partnership, which was signed on the sidelines of this week’s 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, Germany, attempts to identify and execute on projects in support of the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine’s hydropower assets, systems, and capabilities.

“Today, the restoration, protection and preparation of energy facilities for winter remain a priority for Ukraine,” said Ihor Syrota, Chief Executive Officer of Ukrhydroenergo. “Our partnership and cooperation will be an important step in restoring the damaged Ukrainian energy infrastructure in general and hydropower generation in particular.”

Ihor Syrota, Chief Executive Officer at Ukrhydroenergo, and Manav Kumar, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Global Head of Public Affairs at AECOM. Photo: AECOM

Before the Russian invasion, hydro-electricity was the third biggest power source in Ukraine (after fossil fuels and atomic energy), supplying around 10% of the country’s electricity.

However, since the invasion, Ukrhydroenergo says more than 50 Russian attacks on infrastructure and assets have taken offline 2.5GW of the country’s 6.3GW of hydropower capacity.

In June 2023, Ukraine’s largest hydro-electro power plant, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station was forced to halt electricity production after it suffered a strike by Russian forces. In the same month, a significant portion of the 30-meter-high Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River which included the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was also destroyed. Ukraine accused Russia of destroying the dam. A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the destruction and blamed “the Kiev regime.”

AECOM said that it intended to use its decades of experience in the development and design of hydropower and dam projects, providing integrated planning, feasibility, design, environmental studies, and other services to help restore Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.

But with Ukrainian cities under repeated attack from Russian missiles and drones, the company did not say how it intended to ensure any restoration was protected from future Russian strikes.

Since 2023 AECOM has provided program management advisory and technical advisory support for Ukraine’s recovery efforts.

The company is already acting as infrastructure delivery advisor to the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development for the reconstruction of Ukraine and the reconstruction delivery partner for Kyiv Boryspil International Airport.

“Hydropower is vital to Ukraine’s energy supply, and our decades of expertise in this key renewable energy source positions us to support the nation in delivering and sustaining resilient electricity to millions,” said Troy Rudd, AECOM’s chief executive officer. “As leaders in the dams and reservoirs sectors, our teams look forward to bringing the necessary energy advisory and disaster recovery skills to meet Ukrhydroenergo’s complex hydropower objectives.”