Ukraine and Lithuania have signed a declaration on priorities for cooperation in the energy sector. The document was concluded during a meeting in Kyiv between First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Lithuania’s Minister of Energy, Lukas Savickas.
Denys Shmyhal reported this.
The two countries’ energy partnership will focus on several key areas:
- restoring energy infrastructure;
- developing decentralized generation and energy storage systems;
- developing gas infrastructure and diversifying supplies;
- regulating and integrating energy markets into the European space;
- strengthening the protection of energy infrastructure.
Ukraine and Lithuania also established a joint Lithuanian-Ukrainian Energy Partnership Coordination Group.
During the meeting, attended by representatives of the largest energy companies, they discussed the development of B2B partnerships and specific cooperation projects. Lithuanian companies are ready to join the recovery of Ukraine’s energy sector, including within the framework of the Energy Community.
Shmyhal thanked Lithuania for providing equipment for Ukraine’s energy needs. In particular, Ukraine has already received equipment from Vilnius CHP-3.
The sides are also working on transferring equipment from the Kaunas CHP plant for the needs of Kryvyi Rih. According to the minister, it is needed to strengthen the region’s energy resilience ahead of the autumn-winter period.
Special attention was also paid to gas security. This includes expanding supply routes, using the capabilities of the Klaipėda liquefied natural gas terminal, regional gas infrastructure, and Ukraine’s underground gas storage facilities by European partners.
Denys Shmyhal also said that Lithuania has provided Ukraine with humanitarian assistance in the form of energy equipment with a total weight of more than 6,317 tonnes and contributed €5.7 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.
- The European Union allocated an additional €30 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. As a result, the EU’s total contribution to the Fund has reached €279 million. According to Shmyhal, the funds help restore energy infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.
- Earlier, Shmyhal noted that Russia may change its tactics and this winter also attack water supply systems. The Kremlin is trying to destroy Ukraine’s energy system, weaken the economy and the defense industry, and exhaust the population in winter to force Ukraine to capitulate.