Enhancing cooperation within the Norwegian Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, worth 75 billion kroner, was one of the key topics discussed during the meeting held at the Ministry of Energy. The meeting involved the participation of Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Yaroslav Demchenkov, Head of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) Bård Vegar Solhjell, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Marianne Kvan, and Ambassador of Norway to Ukraine Helene Sand Andresen.
Norad is an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Norway. The agency is exploring activities in Ukraine aimed at supporting sustainable post-war recovery and providing operational support during times of conflict.
This meeting marks a continuation of the collaboration between the two countries, which was discussed during the visit of the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to Kyiv. During that visit, Jonas Gahr Støre announced that the Norwegian Government is allocating 1.5 billion Norwegian kroner to ensure the import of gas and electricity to Ukraine through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). These funds will be used for the repair, maintenance of critical electrical infrastructure, emergency power supply in areas affected by hostilities, and the purchase of gas for emergency storage.
During the meeting at the Ministry of Energy on October 17, the Ukrainian and Norwegian sides discussed how the anticipated assistance can contribute to strengthening the energy sector. They also explored opportunities to engage the private sector in green transformation and the decentralization of energy infrastructure.
"We continue to work on stimulating the development of small distributed generation based on renewable energy sources, gas generation, and energy storage systems. This will enhance the resilience of the energy system and allow businesses and households to reduce their dependence on centralized generation in the face of constant attacks on energy infrastructure," stated Yaroslav Demchenkov.
Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko has emphasized on several occasions that the war not only does not halt Ukraine's commitment to making a "green" transition but actually accelerates this process. Work is underway to decentralize the energy system and increase the capacity of renewable energy sources and balancing systems.
Deputy Minister Yaroslav Demchenkov emphasized during the meeting that, in this context, the role of communities is crucial so that they become more energy-efficient by the next heating season. It's important to work together with partners, including Norway, and international organizations to develop a comprehensive programme to support communities. This programme should include the development and implementation of pilot projects in territorial communities, the expansion of funding sources and instruments, as well as increasing attractiveness for investors and advocating for reforms.
