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

Thermal power generation12 April 2024

The storks have returned to the nests, reinforced by the DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids. According to the estimates, the storks have settled in more than 93% of the previously mounted “safe nests”. The company has been installing protective structures on the poles since 2020. This year, it plans to install another 20 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 Kyiv Regional Grids energy workers

Overall, there are 156 special platforms for stork homes installed on the poles in the Kyiv 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. Every spring, our specialists inspect the stork nests, reinforced with protective platforms. They check if everything is ok with it and note if the storks have settled there. This year, the birds have built their nests on 146 mounted protective platforms,” – noted Vitalii Shaida, CEO at DTEK Kyiv Regional 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. When the birds fly away for wintering, energy workers reinforce damaged nests with protective structures.

“Our goal is to provide quality European-level power supply services to Ukrainians, while being as environmental-friendly as possible. Therefore, we will continue to protect the storks from possible electrocution. In particular, this spring, prior to arrival of the birds, energy workers have installed 10 platforms. By the end of the year, we plan to reinforce 10 more nests,” – noted Liudmyla Bocharova, lead specialist of the HSE department at DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids.

Energy workers started securing stork nests back in 2020. Back then, the first protective structure appeared in the village of Divychky, Boryspil district.

A short video of energy workers inspecting safe platforms is available via the following link.

As informed earlier, DTEK Kyiv Regional 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 227 tons of various types of waste for recovery and recycling.