German Galushchenko and Fatih Birol sign a two-year cooperation program between Government of Ukraine and International Energy Agency

Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol and Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko signed a two-year joint work program to restore Ukraine’s energy system after the destruction caused by russian military aggression, and to further build a secure, sustainable energy future.

The program was signed at the IEA headquarters in Paris following the meeting between Fatih Birol and German Galushchenko.

During the meeting, the parties also paid attention to the issue of ensuring global energy and nuclear safety. In particular, they discussed the prospects of diversification of fuel supplies for nuclear power plants in order to replace nuclear fuel from russia. German Galushchenko emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions against the russian nuclear industry and reject russian technologies in this area in view of russia’s violation of all international principles of nuclear safety.

The current state of the energy sector of Ukraine and work on the restoration of energy infrastructure after the russian attacks were also discussed during the meeting. Fatih Birol and German Galushchenko discussed ways to further deepen institutional ties between the IEA and Ukraine.

The joint work program focuses on Ukraine’s key short- and long-term energy priorities, with emphasis on energy security, clean energy transition and the energy sector recovery plan.

“Enhanced security and transition to carbon-free energy are the fundamental principles on which the recovery of Ukraine’s energy sector will be based after the victory. Despite the war, we do not abandon our earlier plans to develop renewable energy and support the global trend of ‘green’ transition. The joint program with the International Energy Agency will facilitate involvement of high-quality expertise, best international practices and widespread adoption of the latest technologies to build Ukraine’s modern energy system,” emphasized German Galushchenko.

According to the program, the IEA will support the Ministry of Energy in the development of the Energy Strategy until 2050. The program outlines areas of cooperation, in particular energy system security, energy saving, low-carbon hydrogen, renewable energy sources, biogas, as well as work with data and statistics.

In the context of strengthening energy security, the IEA will assist the Government of Ukraine in assessing the existing framework for investment in the energy system and in developing recommendations for improvement.

Particular attention to renewable energy in the program is determined by both the significant potential of Ukraine in this area and current trends, which are intensified as a result of the war and the energy crisis. Thus, according to the IEA, the growth rate of total renewable energy capacities in the world may double within 5 years. According to the baseline scenario developed by the Agency, by 2027, renewable energy will account for almost 40% of electricity produced in the world. As Fatih Birol commented on the IEA research, in the next five years the world will have as much renewable energy as in the last 20 years.