Visit by EU’s Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson will increase backing for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
On November 1, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson travelled to Ukraine to speak with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Energy Minister German Galushchenko, and other international partners about providing immediate, tangible assistance to the country’s shattered energy industry. Over the past few weeks and months, more than 30% of Ukraine’s energy system has been impacted by Russia’s deliberate and ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Millions of euros worth of emergency energy equipment have been sent to Ukraine by the EU, along with its Member States and private businesses, but the degree of assistance needs to be increased in view of Russia’s intensifying aggression. The Ukraine Energy Support Fund, established by the Commission, has been given €25.5 million to fulfil the most pressing needs in addition to the necessary equipment.
The Commission, the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, and the Energy Community will undertake a combined campaign in the coming days to mobilise more private sector support .The European Commission and the G7 Presidency called for an international “Marshall plan for Ukraine” less than a week prior to this visit, which would pave the way for the nation’s urgent and long-term restoration.
President Zelenskyy and Commissioner Simson met in Kyiv to discuss the most recent events and how the EU might organise a global effort to restore and rebuild the country’s energy infrastructure.
Additionally, she took part in the inaugural meeting of the International Energy Advisory Council for Ukraine (IEAC4U), a new organisation introduced by Minister Galushchenko during the mid-October conference of EU energy ministers in Prague. All participating nations’ efforts will be coordinated by the IEAC4U, which will also offer technical assistance in matching Ukrainian needs with prospective gifts.
During her visit, Commissioner Simson also had the chance to co-chair the EU-Ukraine High-Level Energy Dialogue with the energy minister, where the urgent requirements of the Ukrainian energy system, the situation with regard to supply security, as well as the reconstruction and decarbonization of its energy system, were discussed.
At the meeting, the commissioner said that 13 million euros have been set aside for the repair of laboratories at the Chornobyl nuclear complex damaged by Russian occupiers, and that the EU aims to provide Ukraine with an additional €3.5 million through the IAEA.
The Commissioner also spoke with Ukrenergo and other Ukrainian energy providers while meeting with Verkhovna Rada, members of the Ukrainian parliament.
