Ukraine’s government: direct damages from destruction of Kakhovka HPP estimated at at least $2 bln

The direct damages caused by the explosion at Kakhovka HPP are estimated at over $2 bln, as per the initial calculations of the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) Institute.

The analysis was carried out by the analytical division of the KSE in cooperation with the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy, and Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

“The primary issue is providing potable water to damaged areas. Thus, the budget committee approved the allocation of $41 million for construction of water pipelines,” Ukraine’s Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said.

According to the analysis, the direct damages are:

• The housing sector — $950 mln in damages. Around 20,000-30,000 houses in the Kherson region and over 500 private houses in the Mykolaiv region have been affected by flooding.

• The energy sector — $624 mln in damages. The Kakhovka HPP has been destroyed and is not recoverable. “The restoration needs for the new hydroelectric power plant of the same installed capacity would amount to nearly $1 billion.”

• The transport infrastructure — $311 mln in damages. Over 290 km of roads have been affected by flooding.

• The industrial sector — $105 mln in damages. Twenty-eight major industrial facilities located on both banks of the Dnipro River have been flooded.

• The agricultural sector — $25 mln in damages.

• The environment — $1.5 bln in damages. According to the analysis, around 150 tons of oil leaked during the explosion of the dam. “The salinity level of the Black Sea near Odessa is nearly three times lower than the norm.”

On 6 June, the dam of the Kakhovka HPP was blown up. Ukraine and Russia accused each other of the act.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs declared that 21 people had died as a result of the dam collapse. Russia’s occupation “government” of the Kherson region reported 38 victims among the population.