Prime Minister held a working meeting to discuss security of energy supplies in the country during the heating season

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman on Thursday held a working meeting to discuss security of energy supplies. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kistion, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Ihor Nasalyk, Chairman of the Naftogaz Ukraine Board Andrii Kobolev were participating in the event.

The Prime Minister noted that the ongoing heating season is absolutely stable.

"The current situation is absolutely stable. But it is crucial today for us to keep abreast and to ensure completion of the heating season pursuant to the schedule so that we could start preparation for the next heating season basing on all the reserves we have, without reducing them, preserving the amount necessary to secure stability on any conditions during the heating season and providing everything we need", said Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister thanked everyone responsible for the preparation for the heating season and security of energy supplies. He also stressed the need to accumulate energy for the next heating season.

Volodymyr Groysman raised an issue of reliable energy supply within the country and set a task to intensify work, in particular to deepen cooperation with regional heat providers, to modernize networks.

In this context, the Prime Minister stressed that the volume of accumulated coal should not be reduced. In his opinion, it is necessary to provide 1.9-2 million tons of coal as unchanged minimal amount accumulated in the storages.

Volodymyr Groysman accentuated that till 2020 Ukraine must ensure its energy independence.

"We must fully provide ourselves with gas. That’s it. This will enable the development of the national economy and reducing prices for energy in the medium term”, he stressed. “Our task is to consume less with producing more domestic energy resources and ensuring better quality".

The Prime Minister also urged to accelerate efforts to reform NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.