Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson visited Ukraine on Tuesday and discussed plans to help the country rebuild its energy sector.
The EC pointed out in a statement that Simson and international partners met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Energy Minister German Galushchenko to discuss how to best help. The Commission noted that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine left its energy sector battered stressing that more than 30% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is affected.
While the EC, EU member states and private companies delivered emergency energy equipment worth millions of euro to Ukraine, the country needs more help due to Moscow’s escalating attacks, the Commission pointed out.
More aid announced
The EC also provided 25.5 million euro through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to help the country cover its most urgent needs. In addition, the body announced plans to mobilise additional support from private companies in the coming days.
Simson’s visit came days after the G7 Presidency proposed a “Marshall Plan for Ukraine” to launch international rebuilding efforts.
As part of her visit to Ukraine, Simson attended the first International Energy Advisory Council for Ukraine (IEAC4U) meeting, which Galushchenko announced in October. The IEAC4U is to coordinate aid efforts and help potential donors to match Ukraine’s needs with their donations.
Simson and Galushchenko also discussed plans to decarbonise Ukraine’s energy system, with Simson noting that the EC allocated 13 million euro for rebuilding laboratories at the Chernobyl nuclear site.
She added that the EU plans to provide additional 3.5 million euro via the International Atomic Energy Agency to help Ukraine rebuild its energy sector.
The Commission reminded that it has been standing with Ukraine since the start of the war and providing support through different channels.
The body reminded that it shipped energy equipment to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In addition, it provided Ukraine with more than 40 million euro worth of nuclear, chemical and biological threat countermeasures and equipment.
The Commission stressed the importance of helping Ukraine to rebuild its energy sector and ensure stability of supply, concluding that it will continue to support the country and help it rebuild.
Sources: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6492
