On Wednesday, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman held a meeting with U.S. Assistant
Energy Secretary for the Office of International Affairs
Jonathan Elkind and U.S. Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Clean Coal and Carbon Management David Mohler. The
sides discussed areas of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and reforms conducted by the Ukrainian Government
in energy .
Volodymyr Groysman
informed that at today's session
the Government approved the concept of
the creation of a National Fund for Energy Efficiency.
Moreover, on July 1, the Government approved NJSC Naftogaz
unbundling plan.
"We will continue to pursue the reform of the energy
sector, as this is crucial for our
country," said the Prime Minister.
The agenda of the
Government also involves de-monopolization of the market, intelligent deregulation, promotion of
energy efficiency, issues of
nuclear power, thermal power generation, development of renewable energy. In
these areas Ukraine is open to
deepen cooperation, pointed out Volodymyr Groysman.
He reminded
that the decision taken by the Government to introduce a market-based gas price will stimulate an increase in
gas production in Ukraine, as well as
energy efficiency and reducing consumption.
"I'm interested
in creating completely market conditions and not leaving room for any corruption in the energy sector in general," underlined the Head of
Government. However, this solution suffers significant criticism from populists, he noted.
Volodymyr Groysman
also informed his interlocutors
that recently Kyiv Economic Court of Appeal had lifted the arrest
from the Energoatom’s accounts.
The sides discussed cooperation in the areas of preparation
for the heating season, the issue of cybersecurity and the possibility of U.S. assistance in carrying out energy efficiency
programs in Ukraine. The American
experts expressed their readiness to share experience with the use of clean
energy technologies and to continue collaboration.
U.S.
Assistant Energy
Secretary for the Office of International Affairs
Jonathan Elkind
stressed the importance of ensuring the sustainability of the energy system and
the development of medium-term plans.
He praised the decision to unblock the accounts of Energoatom, approval of the Naftogaz unbundling plan. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy also noted the
importance of establishing the market price for gas in Ukraine - "this
step is extremely necessary for further progress."
"We are pleased with the positive steps taken on the path of to reform in order to create foundations for future development," pointed out U.S. Assistant Energy Secretary Jonathan Elkind.
