IEA review of Ukraine`s energy policies highlights country`s potential for an energy revolution
Conventional and unconventional gas reserves with improved energy efficiency could drive transformation
KIEV -- By tapping its own natural gas deposits and improving energy efficiency, Ukraine could end its import dependency. But to truly revolutionise its energy sector, the country also must improve its infrastructure and pricing systems, the International Energy Agency (IEA)<http://www.iea.org/> says in its in-depth review of Ukraine's energy policies, released today in Kiev.
'Ukraine has already taken important steps towards energy sector reforms, but achieving the full potential for an energy revolution will require a greater policy focus on developing energy efficiency in the building and industry sectors and modernising district heating systems,' IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said in Kiev at the launch of Ukraine 2012 Energy Policy Review. 'The country must make deep regulatory reforms to foster effective competition, alongside a progressive move towards market prices to attract investment to develop the sector.'
Ukraine can further expand conventional and unconventional gas extraction to achieve import independence on the longer term, according to the report, benefitting from its large gas transmission system. The country also has untapped biomass and waste-to-energy opportunities and the scope to reduce gas consumption in the residential sector.
The review highlights Ukraine's ongoing efforts to liberalise its gas and electricity markets in line with Energy Community Treaty commitments. It encourages the country to offset higher costs for residential customers resulting from the move towards market prices by combining support measures with increased investments in energy efficiency, including greater use of meters and consumption-reduction incentives.
The review calls for a lead ministry to develop an energy strategy and monitor its progress. That strategy should allow Ukraine to:
Improve data and statistics collection to monitor progress towards targets and benchmark Ukraine's results internationally.
Strengthen energy-efficiency policies and lower gas consumption in the district heating sector to ensure heat supply and lower energy bills.
Increase oil and natural gas production, upgrade the gas transmission system and diversify supplies via interconnections with Central European markets.
Make full use of the country's potential for renewable energy development, particularly biogas and municipal waste for heat and power generation, and maintain a nuclear electricity capability.
The IEA has prepared this in-depth review on the request of Ukraine, one of its important partner countries. The review has been supported by the European Union.
Ukraine 2012 Energy Policy Review is now on sale and may be ordered from the IEA Bookshop. Please send a request by email to books@iea.org<mailto:books@iea.org>, or order at the following link: http://www.iea.org/publications/bookshop. Accredited journalists who would like to speak with one of the report's authors, or who would like to receive a review copy of the report, are invited to send a request by e-mail to IEAPressOffice@iea.org<mailto:IEAPressOffice@iea.org>.
About the IEA
The International Energy Agency<http://www.iea.org/index.asp> is an autonomous organisation which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond. Founded in response to the 1973/4 oil crisis, the IEA's initial role was to help countries co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in oil supply through the release of emergency oil stocks to the markets. While this continues to be a key aspect of its work, the IEA has evolved and expanded. It is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing reliable and unbiased research, statistics, analysis and recommendations.
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