Estonian experts received a hands on briefing on Ukraine’s fast build engineering protections for energy infrastructure. The visit highlighted solutions that keep transformers operating despite attacks.
The Recovery Agency shared its expertise in protecting and restoring critical infrastructure facilities, including the energy sector, with the Estonian delegation.
According to the agency’s press service, published on the official Facebook page, the parties discussed the main approaches to infrastructure protection in crisis conditions.
“The Estonian side was presented with engineered protection solutions that have already proven their effectiveness in wartime conditions, demonstrated typical design solutions for engineering protection of critical infrastructure facilities, and explained their key advantages: rapid construction and resilience.”
– the state agency’s press service
Such protective structures are able to withstand dozens of strikes, and transformers continue to operate even under shelling.
Today the Recovery Agency is completing the implementation of these solutions at more than 120 critical infrastructure facilities. The protection of 39 elements at 22 high-capacity substations has already been completed.
The status of execution and the progress of construction are tracked using a specially developed dashboard that allows for real-time control of all implementation stages. Additionally, there is a dashboard monitoring the cost of construction materials that are being procured for the erection of physical protection facilities.
The Estonian side expressed interest in studying Ukrainian experience; the partners are ready to adopt primarily standard solutions that enable quickly constructing facilities that function effectively in crisis conditions.
In addition, the Estonian delegation visited facilities where protection construction works are underway to familiarize themselves with practical aspects of implementing the solutions.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with Estonia’s Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt, during which joint steps to strengthen critical infrastructure were discussed.
Further Joint Steps and Plans
As part of further experience exchange, the parties plan to continue cooperation on matters of engineering and technical protection of energy facilities and other critically important sectors, as well as improve the monitoring and funding system for protection projects.