Power bridge to Crimea may be launched by the end of 2015

The power bridge to Crimea across the Kerch Strait may be launched as early as in the current year. Alexander Novak, Energy Minister of Russia, told reporters the power bridge to Crimea from the Krasnodar region may be put into operation by Jan 1 2016. 

He said the steam gas-turbine systems are ready and have been delivered to Crimea along with part of the necessary equipment.

Crimea received electric power from Ukraine through two power transmission lines with a capacity of 650MW. The other two lines were blown up earlier. It was reported on November 20 that the towers supporting the power lines were destroyed presumably by an explosion.

EADaily reported earlier that Crimea depends on Ukraine’s power supply by more than 80%. To reduce this dependence on Ukraine, a new thermal power-plant with a capacity of 600MW is being built in Krasnodar region along with a power bridge that will reach Crimea across the Kerch Strait.  

The capacity of the first line of the power bridge (it will be launched shortly) is about 400MW. The construction of the second line will be completed in 2016, which will increase the capacities to 800MW.