Ukraine and Germany ink energy partnership to 'modernise' Ukraine's energy sector

Ukraine and Germany have agreed on the launch of an energy partnership that will bring closer cooperation between the two countries' governments in energy and climate policy. "I'm very happy that our bilateral cooperation in energy affairs between Germany and Ukraine will be further intensified and that the energy partnership will assist Ukraine in modernising its energy sector in the long-term," German economy minister Peter Altmaier said. According to the economy ministry, the partnership will consolidate years of bilateral energy projects and focus on energy efficiency in buildings and industry, power sector modernisation, renewables expansion and integration and the reduction of CO2 emissions. During a visit by Ukrainian energy minister Olha Buslawez in Berlin, the ministers also discussed cooperation on the economic transformation of coal mining regions in Ukraine and the development of the “future topic” hydrogen production.

Germany is seeking energy partnerships with governments around the world that want to draw on the expertise the country has gained with its energy transition, the Energiewende, which has been ongoing for more than 20 years and offers valuable lessons on what to do and what to avoid regarding the integration of renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency. Ukraine has been among the countries most sceptical about the Russian-German gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2 due to fears that the project could see it lose its important transit role for gas transports from Russia to Western Europe. Germany has sought to allay Ukraine's fears by giving the country reassurances that it would remain a key corridor for energy trading.