The head of the centre Ievgeniia Kopytsia took part in Ukraine Recovery Conference 2-24 in Berlin, including a high-level discussion focusing on the future of Ukraine’s energy sector and its pivotal role in the country’s journey toward EU membership
In anticipation of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), the Europe Ukraine Energy Transition Hub (EUETH) convened a high-level discussion focusing on the future of Ukraine’s energy sector and its pivotal role in the country’s journey toward EU membership. The event underscored the importance of robust collaboration among Ukrainian, European, and transatlantic partners to facilitate the rapid implementation of reforms necessary for Ukraine to rebuild a functional energy market, align with EU regulations, and achieve its climate objectives.
Ukraine’s energy sector faces a dual challenge: maintaining electricity supply during the winter months while a substantial portion of its generation capacity has been damaged or destroyed, and concurrently planning for a secure, resilient, and clean energy ecosystem that aligns with EU principles and ambitions. EUETH extended invitations to Ukraine’s policymakers and leading private sector representatives to engage with senior EU counterparts in exploring potential solutions to these significant challenges.
“Transforming the energy sector is a monumental undertaking for any nation, particularly considering the challenges Ukraine is currently confronting,” remarked Simon Schäfer-Stradowsky, Executive Director of IKEM and one of EUETH’s leaders. “Long-term collaboration with international partners and key stakeholders must therefore be at the forefront of Ukraine’s efforts to rebuild its infrastructure and decarbonize its energy supply. EUETH aims to support this process by building capacity for necessary legal and economic reforms and fostering an environment for exchange among authorities, companies, and researchers.”
Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, echoed this sentiment in his keynote address: “Since the onset of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression, the EU has demonstrated unwavering support for Ukraine and has made significant strides to bring Ukraine closer to Europe. Building upon the already accelerated market integration of the Ukrainian energy system, the energy sector will be a key driver for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and the transformation of both the European and Ukrainian economies. By engaging relevant stakeholders and disseminating European and global best practices, platforms like EUETH help build a bridge towards a shared energy future.”
The event also featured a virtual address by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, who emphasized Ukraine’s resilience. “Due to the recent Russian missile and drone attacks, 42 energy units, totaling nearly 9.2 GW, have been damaged. This is why support from our partners is crucial for the survival and stability of our energy sector. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine is actively working on modernizing its energy sector in accordance with European standards. For us, it is important to carry out post-war reconstruction in line with the concepts of Build Back Better and Build Back Greener.”
Ann Mettler, Vice President, Europe, Breakthrough Energy, commented: “Russia’s aggression has served as a wake-up call for all of Europe, emphasizing the need to redouble our investments in the clean energy transition. Ukraine, with its skilled workforce and abundant renewable and mineral resources, is poised to become a key enabler of that transformation – if we have the foresight to start planning now. By developing a pipeline of cutting-edge technology projects and supporting Ukraine’s economic and political integration into the EU, we can jump-start the world’s first green post-war recovery. It’s about more than just supporting Ukraine, though; we must also learn from them. Ukraine’s efforts to maintain its energy grid while under attack have been heroic and offer a valuable lesson to us all regarding the requirements for building an energy-resilient Europe.”
The event convened over 40 experts from various energy-related fields, including high-profile representatives from all major Ukrainian energy market players. Oleksiy Chernyshov (Naftogaz of Ukraine), Ihor Syrota (Ukrhydroenergo), Volodymyr Kudrytskyi (NPC UKRENERGO), Valeriy Tarasyuk (National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities), Maksym Timchenko (DTEK), Nataliya Boyko (Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine), and Ievgeniia Kopytsia (IKEM) participated in a roundtable discussion addressing the current needs and future prospects of the Ukrainian energy system.
Source: https://www.ikem.de/en/international-cooperation-must-be-at-the-heart-of-ukraines-energy-sector-transformation/
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