Volodymyr Groysman: Government will concentrate efforts on energy efficiency as a factor of gaining Ukraine's independence
The energy efficiency sector in Ukraine is promising, attractive for investment and will afford to stimulate gas production in Ukraine, to introduce alternative energy sources and to ensure energy independence of the country. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman at a meeting of the National Council of Reforms dedicated to energy efficiency issues which was held under the chairmanship of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday, June 7.
"Now the time has come when we put emphasis on energy efficiency of Ukraine, on obtaining our own independence by developing domestic gas production, the introduction of alternative energy sources, alternative fuel. I believe that this direction possesses extremely high potential," said Volodymyr Groysman.
According to him, energy efficiency today is of great importance. Such factors as improper energy saving and gas supplies from the Russian Federation we had had for many years have put Ukraine and its statehood in the dependence, reduced competitiveness, and gave rise to many challenges in all areas. In addition, over the years of independence gas production in Ukraine has been deliberately destroyed, said the Prime Minister.
Over the past few years, the Government has taken "difficult but right steps" in terms of diversification of gas supplies, reminded Volodymyr Groysman. "And another fact that we could have abandoned gas supplies from the Russian Federation, proves we have made an absolutely correct decision", he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the Government had elaborated certain initiatives designed to reduce gas consumption, to boost production, and to build an effective social protection system aimed to minimize losses as a result of the introduction of market-based gas price. Moreover, it is crucial to carry out deregulation and to achieve efficiency in this area which will facilitate leveraging investment in here, he stressed.
Herewith, the Head of Government noted that a decision of the Parliament on energy service contracts, which was adopted, "will give an opportunity to create decent conditions to attract investments in this sector".
Volodymyr Groysman emphasized the role of local governments in achieving energy efficiency. "Energy efficiency sector will affect different areas of our lives, and it is crucial to ensure direct participation of local authorities, local self-government bodies in this activity", he urged.
The Head of Government noted that financial decentralization had entailed the growth of local revenues, thereby there was an opportunity to "take efficient measures to help insulate buildings and to cut consumption". Another task is "to examine facilities that we use today, those from the Soviet times and characterized by double or triple energy consumption than the facilities necessary nowadays to produce water, heat and other services," he said.
The Prime Minister accentuated the need to simplify conditions for businesses to connect to the power grid. "We have an intricate system in Ukraine for the business to tap into a power line. I believe this issue of great importance as it hampers, on the one hand, the development of businesses and the creation of new jobs and new industries, and on the other hand, is a terrible factor of corruption", he stressed.
According to him, it is necessary to take "urgent action to deprive entrepreneurs of excessive, inappropriate and non-objective expenses, which they bear. It is unacceptable," summed up Volodymyr Groysman.