Europeans Advise Kyiv to Resume Energy Imports from Russia

Energy Community Secretariat Director Janez Kopač advised Kyiv to approach carefully the restoration of gas, electricity and coal supplies from Russia. Energy Community Secretariat Director Janez Kopač believes that Ukraine should resume direct deliveries of gas, electricity and coal from Russia. He expressed this opinion on Monday, December 16, during a presentation of a report on Ukraine’s fulfillment of its obligations to the EU on the implementation of European standards in the Verkhovna Rada. At the same time, he warned of the need for a balanced volume and security of these supplies for Ukrainian manufacturers. Energy Community assesses Ukraine’s fulfillment of obligations as one of the most successful among non-EU states, Kopač emphasized. According to him, Kyiv will successfully cope with Naftogaz of Ukraine unbundling, which provides for the creation of separate structures for gas trade, production and transit. Kopač appreciated Ukraine for introducing “many provisions” of the EU’s Third Energy Package. At the same time, he urged go the extra mile and to allow NPC Ukrenergo to use the subdivision model Naftogaz of Ukraine did. This will help, according to the European official, to get certification as soon as possible, which is necessary to continue Ukraine’s adaptation to the European Synchronous Zone. Mentioning the adoption of Naftogaz of Ukraine unbundling law, Kopač promised to provide with the preliminary certification of the new Ukrainian gas transiter. He expressed hope that Ukraine would soon sign a long-term contract for the supply of gas with the Russian Gazprom. At the same time, he agreed with the opinion of the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coal Industry of the Committee on Energy, Housing and Utility Services of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Mykhaylo Bondar that Russia’s promises to sell cheap electricity and gas to Ukraine “are elements of a hybrid war”. “I agree, Russia is an aggressor, it uses energy as a weapon ... We can see this when it concerns gas supplies. Fortunately, Russia keeps supplying Ukraine with coal, but it can always cut off supplies, for example, from Kazakhstan to Ukraine,” Kopač said. According to him, the Ukrainian market will benefit from supplying of electricity from Russia. Only if the import of cheap electricity is balanced with the interests of its domestic producers. DW