The storks have returned to the nests, reinforced by the DTEK Dnipro Grids energy workers

Thermal power generation17 April 2024

The storks have returned to the nests, reinforced by the DTEK Dnipro Grids. The birds have settled in nearly 85% of the platforms that energy workers mounted for them. The company has been installing protective structures on the poles since 2013. This year, it has already mounted 10 nests. Despite the war, energy workers continue to care about biodiversity and environment. The works are carried out under the auspices of the #EnergyWings project, directed at protection and preservation of the white stork population. It complies with ESG principles and UN Global Compact Sustainable Development Goal No. 15 – “Preservation of terrestrial ecosystems”.

The storks have returned to the nests, reinforced by the DTEK Dnipro Grids energy workers

Overall, there are 226 special platforms for stork homes installed on the poles in the Dnipropetrovsk region. It will help protect birds from possible electrocution. Additionally, these activities protect company’s customers from power outages that may be caused by sliding of nests on the wires.

“Despite the war, DTEK continues to develop grids infrastructure based on the sustainable development principles. When the birds fly away for wintering, our specialists reinforce the damaged nests with protective platforms. And every spring, they inspect stork nests, reinforced with protective platforms. They check if everything is ok with it and note if the storks have settled there. This year, they have already prepared 10 protective platforms, where the birds have already settled in. We plan to mount 2 more in autumn – in Tsarychanka community,” – noted Andrii Tereshchuk, CEO at DTEK Dnipro Grids.

When performing regular inspections of the overhead lines, specialists of the company register the poles where the storks decided to build their homes. Additionally, residents of the region often inform about such cases. That is what a resident of the Bulakhivka village did in late March. There, a nest collapsed due to its heavy weight. Energy workers responded and carried out an unscheduled installation of the platform on the pole. And as soon as the works were completed, a bird flew to the nest. More details about the rescue of the stork family from Bulakhivka are available via the link.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, specialists have already reinforced 37 platforms.

“Despite the war, we continue the #EnergyWings project. This is the second nest in Pavlohrad district installed this year. We monitor how the birds are settling in our structures. The average annual percentage is over 85%. From my personal experience, I have never before seen storks accepting the new nest as fast as this time. We consider it a good sign and we hope that these birds will bring joy and peace to Ukraine,” – noted chief specialist of the environmental safety department at DTEK Dnipro Grids Alla Pavlova.

As informed earlier, DTEK Dnipro Grids gradually implements Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Global Compact. The company has an efficient waste management system. It is built on the principles of circular economy and last year alone it helped send more than 2,500 tons of various types of waste for recovery and recycling.