On November 13-14, Warsaw hosted the two-day international exhibition and conference “ReBuild Ukraine Construction and Energy”. The event aimed to join efforts to help Ukraine restore its war-ravaged economy, with a focus on infrastructure projects, industry, energy and the residential sector. ReBuild Ukraine Construction and Energy brought together attendees from across the world and Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, in a brief interview to Ukrinform’s correspondent on the margins of the forum, summarized the outcomes of this significant international gathering, and outlined the most urgent needs of the country’s energy system ahead of the incoming winter season. He also touched on topics such as Russia’s continuing attacks on civilian and energy infrastructures in Ukraine, Ukraine-Poland energy cooperation, as well as promising directions for renewable energy conversion in Ukraine.
UKRAINE NEEDS PARTNERS’ AID TO BOLSTER ITS AIR DEFENSES
– Mr. Minister, you attended the exhibition and conference “Rebuild Ukraine” in Warsaw, had conversations with international partners. What main conclusions can be made based on the outcomes reached during the event?
– The reality is that the interest in Ukraine’s energy sector is ever growing. This is evidenced by the level of attendance, which grew significantly from last year’s edition of the event to reach some six hundred companies from over four dozen countries from across the world. It was attended by lots of my ministerial counterparts with whom we have maintained long-standing relations in areas of support for Ukraine’s energy sector. It is extremely important that the conference was attended by very numerous businesses interested in working in Ukraine. Some are already present in Ukraine’s energy sector, while others are just mulling over coming to work in our country. The key is the support, really tangible support that we feel. This is about the support for the projects being implemented both at the level of individual businesses and at the governmental level.
– What are Ukraine’s most urgent needs regarding its energy sector, particularly in the context of the incoming winter season and Russia’s continuous attacks on the energy infrastructure in Ukraine? What kind of aid are we expecting from our Western partners?
– Air defenses. Robust, effective air defenses is the key priority. Incidentally, my counterparts – Ministers of Energy – also talked a lot about this publicly at the conference. This is encouraging sign, because everyone knows very well that the infrastructure that was repaired and restored in 2023 to ensure a smooth passage through winter last year, unfortunately, was destroyed again this year. Now we have carried out another large-scale repair campaign. But if the restored infrastructure was destroyed again, then this is a kind of running in a circle: you repair, and the Russians destroy it, again and again. Of course, we will get everything repaired anyway, but the key problem, which everyone understands well, is that we must get our skies fully secured against air attacks. This was discussed, among other things, at the conference by energy ministers of many countries.
UKRAINE IS WILLING TO HELP POLAND DEVELOP ITS PLANNED NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR
– Poland has announced ready to supply additional electricity to Kyiv during winter, in particular from its own coal-fired power plants. What is Ukraine’s stance on that matter?
– We are currently in the process of negotiations on that matter. In Warsaw, I talked over this topic with two Polish ministers. Now an exchange of documents is expected, we will see. Indeed, Ukraine takes interest in whatever projects that can add megawatts to our energy system.
– What’s your general assessment of the energy sector cooperation between Ukraine and Poland?
– It is very good, we cooperate in many areas. Last year, for example, we launched a new electricity interconnector between Khmelnytskyi NPP and Rzeszów, thus increasing the amount of throughput capacity for energy systems of Ukraine and the European Union. We are also discussing cooperation in the natural gas sector, the construction of gas interconnectors and utilization of gas storage facilities [in Ukraine], as well as avenues for future cooperation on nuclear energy matters. Poland is planning to develop its nuclear energy sector and has signed relevant contracts, while we, for our part, have vast operational experience and highly competent professionals in the relevant field. Therefore, in negotiations with both Polish and American partners, we emphasized that Ukraine is able to make a significant contribution in this area. We also cooperate in equipment supplies: Poland has provided us with equipment for the reconstruction and repair of energy infrastructure. To this end, we are in continuous contact with the Polish party.
DEVELOPMENT OF WIND POWER GENERATION WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR 2025
– Mr. Minister, what is the current share of renewable energy sources in Ukraine’s overall energy balance? What sources of renewable energy are a priority for development in our country?
– This share varies with seasons. Currently, it is the lowest and will remain so throughout the winter. But from the renewable energy perspective, we do have an intention to significantly increase wind power generation next year. There are plans to build specific wind power stations with an overall capacity exceeding 800 MW. Incidentally enough, our Western partners, at this conference, showed a significant interest in wind power generation. In particular, we were talking this over with our Norwegian colleagues, who are currently considering a major 300 MW project in Ukraine, which involves precisely wind generation. Of course, we are also talking about solar power. For that matter, we expect that programs focused on households will become actively operating beginning next year. We do hope that people will install solar panels, because the State creates this opportunity, and banks have agreed on the possibility for citizens to obtain zero-interest, 10-year loans from them. Now this all is just the beginning, but, I hope, we’ll see wholly different numbers next year, will see a progress towards that end. But the focus for next year, as I see it, will be on the development of wind power generation and the fruition of the already planned projects.
– The first auction for renewable energy quotas did not take place due to the lack of participants. Has your Ministry investigated into the causes for this situation, and will the auction terms and conditions change?
– The matter is currently being studied with respect to whether auction terms and conditions need to be changed. Of course, this is our vested interest, and the auction will be held anyway.
Interviewed by Yuriy Banakhevych, Warsaw
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Energy
