USAID Backs Ukraine’s Defense Initiative with 20,000 Tons of Metal for Anti-Drone Protection
5 December, 2023 Shahed 136 loitering munition. Illustration The U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) will finance a purchase of 20,000 tons of metal for the construction of second-level protection at Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator facilities. The State Agency for the Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine reported on this. The project on providing metal for construction is being implemented by Tetra Tech ES, a USAID contractor, under a previously signed memorandum of understanding.
"This is a defense against drones and Shahed drones," the agency said. The agency notes that the company buys the metal from a Ukrainian producer, after which it is transported to a construction site where the first batch is already being used.
Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator. Photo credits: pscouncil.org
In total, 22 substations and 63 autotransformers in 14 regions belong to the second level of protection.
Concrete structures around Ukrenergo's main grid have been under construction since March 23, the statement reads. The decision to protect energy facilities was made by the government and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while the U.S.
Agency for International Development works together with the Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator, which forms the design and construction tasks. "The design uses initial data from the General Staff, guidelines for engineering troops, and international regulatory documents received from specialized specialists during training in the UK according to UK and US norms and standards," the U.S.
Agency for International Development assures. In November, it was reported that during the repair campaign, the Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator restored the functionality of its substations by 95% and repaired 5,000 km of power lines, of which 1,000 km were rebuilt from scratch.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine is eliminating the consequences of shelling of infrastructure, Rivne region, October 22, 2022. Photo credits: SESU
In particular, the company had to rebuild 1,000 km of overhead lines from scratch.
It regards the facilities in the frontline areas, including the liberated territories, which were densely mined. Ukrenergo's emergency stock of equipment and materials has increased by 3.5 times compared to 2022, which will allow the company to respond quickly to emergencies. This is not Tetra Tech's first project in Ukraine.
In 2022, the United States allocated £47.6 million to Tetra Tech to help Ukraine demine its territories.