Good afternoon, dear colleagues, fellow Ukrainians.

One of the key issues today is the situation in the energy sector.

Let’s start with the main thing. The energy system is integral and stable. Power engineers are in control of the situation. However, electricity generation is not enough to cover all consumption.

Therefore, Ukrenergo is forced to return to the blackout schedules for both industry and households.

The Government, the energy sector and all responsible agencies are working continuously to improve the situation as much as possible.

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Firstly, we continue with repairs.

Today, we are allocating UAH 726 million for the state-owned company Centrenergo, which owns Zmiivska TPP in Kharkiv region and Trypilska TPP in Kyiv region. The funds for the restoration of these TPPs will be allocated from the reserve fund of the state budget.

We are also allocating another UAH 826 million from the fund for the elimination of the consequences of the aggression to rebuild these critical TPPs. The total amount will be more than UAH 1.5 billion.

We expect maximum efficiency in the use of these funds. The work should be carried out as quickly as possible.

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The second task is decentralisation and ensuring reliable energy supply for critical infrastructure.

Currently, there are more than 11,000 generators in medical institutions in Ukraine. The availability of at least 1 generator in hospitals with inpatient departments is a condition for contracting with the National Health Service.

As part of a joint project with the World Bank, we are installing solar stations with batteries that accumulate electricity in medical facilities. Currently, more than 60 hospitals have such stations.

Recently, medical facilities in 20 regions of Ukraine received 300 energy storage systems. In total, by 2024, medical facilities in Ukraine will receive 2,000 such systems.

I am grateful to all partners who are involved in these projects.

We also support social protection institutions. Social service centres have more than 600 generators. Boarding schools have 780 generators.

Administrative service centres have 545 generators, and 109 centres are equipped with solar panels.

All of this means that despite the current blackouts and the difficult situation, our citizens will have access to medical, social and public services.

This work must not only be continued, but accelerated and expanded.

Therefore, the task for each ministry and minister is to ensure the energy autonomy of all designated institutions in your area of responsibility. This applies to both electricity and heating.

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Another key element in strengthening our energy resilience is energy efficiency.

We have already mentioned that homeowners associations can receive compensation from the Energy Efficiency Fund for the installation of solar power plants and heat pumps. It is important that these are grants of up to UAH 2 million. This means that the state is providing people with funds to improve their energy supply conditions.

Local authorities should also be actively involved in all these processes.

The Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development and the Energy Efficiency Fund will be tasked with working with local leaders to develop programmes to ensure basic energy independence for communities and individual apartment buildings.

The operation of lifts, water pumps to supply water to the upper floors and separate work on generators and solar panels must be ensured.

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The fourth task, which is also directly related to our energy independence and sustainability, is to increase energy production. First of all, we are talking about gas production.

In 2023, state-owned Naftogaz launched 86 new wells. Since the beginning of this year, another 7 new wells have been launched.

It is important that the company has achieved the highest production for the corresponding period over the past two years. The goal for 2024 for Naftogaz is to reach production of about 15 billion cubic metres of gas.

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I am grateful to all power engineers who work 24/7 and with full dedication to restore and strengthen our power system.

Given the complexity of the situation, we once again urge citizens to use electricity sparingly. This should become a new habit and a new norm for all of us.

Thank you for your attention.

Glory to Ukraine!