Ukraine and the United Kingdom will deepen cooperation in the transformation of coal regions

Reform of the coal industry and the gradual abandonment of heat generation are important factors in decarbonization and climate neutrality. This was stated by the Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko during a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine Melinda Simmons.

"Decarbonisation is one of the key challenges we face. To achieve the goal in the near future, it is necessary to take certain steps in this direction now. This is primarily a question of modernization and replacement of heat generation. The second aspect is the transformation of the coal industry and regions. It is critical for us to carry out a pilot project on transformation and extend this experience to other mines," said German Galushchenko.

The Ministry of Energy is already cooperating with the British side in the implementation of a pilot project for the transformation of one of the coal mines and is ready to meet at a working level with representatives of the international consulting company Environmental Resources Management to complete mine selection and launch the project as soon as possible. The parties discussed technical issues and agreed on ways to accelerate project implementation.

The Minister of Energy also stressed that his Ministry works closely with the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development on the transformation of the coal industry.

"Our advancement towards decarbonization in itself is absolutely correct to modernize the economic component. Meanwhile, the abandonment of fossil fuels will take place gradually and in parallel with the fair transformation of coal regions. For us, the social aspect is in the first place - to retrain people, provide them with jobs, treat fair those veterans who have worked in the mines all their lives," said Herman Galushchenko.

In addition, the participants of the meeting considered issues of energy security, Ukraine's integration into European energy markets and, accordingly, the reform of the Ukrainian energy sector, ways to reduce harmful emissions to achieve the goal of the Second Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement.