Ukraine's energy security is
among the priorities of the Government. This was discussed at the briefing of the
Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Prodan in the building of the Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine.
The Minister stressed
that the basis of energy security is the ensuring of the country with energy
resources.
Yuriy Prodan in particularly informed on the situation in the
coal industry: "We’ve eliminated agents primarily in the coal sector. And
now, for example, coking coal goes directly to thermal power plants, enterprises
of metallurgical industry from state-owned enterprises. There are no agents there."
The Minister said that
special attention is paid to the control of preventing purchase of mining
equipment at inflated prices.
Yuriy Prodan also informed on results of the negotiations concerning
increasing of reverse gas supplies to Ukraine
from European countries: "We have confirmation from gas traders, operators
of gas transmission systems of Poland
and Hungary
that we can carry out reverse on the average daily value of somewhere around 20
million cubic meters of gas. And as of today there are gas traders who are
willing to engage in this work and to supply gas at relevant market European
prices to Ukraine
in such volumes."
The Minister said on the
resumption of negotiations and the revitalization of cooperation with the Polish
side on Brody - Adam's bail project."
One of the factors for
increasing of energy security, according to the Minister, is increasing of gas
production in Ukraine,
particularly from unconventional sources. Yuriy Prodan recalled that those resources that may be involved
in shale gas production, currently estimated at 30 trillion cubic meters of
gas. "I think that concrete results in terms of gas production of Shell Company
will be in the next two years," the Minister said.
He also stressed on the
importance of implementation in Ukraine
of the Initiative on Transparency in Extractive Industries that will attract
investment.
Yuriy Prodan said that a significant negative factor, which affects
the energy security of Ukraine,
is a capture by the aggressor of Chornomornaftogas Company.
"The Only proven reserves of natural gas in the region are 100 billion
cubic meters of gas. Projected reserves are about 3 trillion cubic meters of
gas. This is a serious loss to our energy security," Yuriy
Prodan said.
Yuriy Prodan also told on activation the work to strengthen
energy security in the nuclear industry, including the nuclear fuel supply and construction
of storage for nuclear fuel.
Concerning the issue
of payments for Russian gas, the Minister stressed that Ukraine is ready to fulfill its
obligations and to act in previous agreements.
In particular, he
noted that it was concluded agreement with Russia
in 2013 under which the Russian
Federation agrees to provide a loan of $ 15
billion, of which $ 2 billion had to go to the payment of debt for gas in
February 2014, but the Russian side does not adhere to agreements and loan was
not provided in February. We have no other agreements with Russia. The Minister added that Ukraine
is ready to return to the previous agreements and decide on economic rather
than political arena.
