In his weekly radio address, Victor Yushchenko outlined major points of a program to improve energy efficiency of the national economy: using local energy resources, finding new partners for energy cooperation, and saving energy.
The President is convinced Ukraine can considerably reduce its consumption of energy. He promised to find mechanisms encouraging industries and local governments to save energy.
“I am sure it is time we introduce new energy technologies and replace outdated equipment. The government will support entrepreneurs’ intentions to invest in energy efficiency by cutting taxes and tariffs. This practice is widespread in Europe,” he said.
Yushchenko also insisted that we should prevent some people from “paying for themselves and then for their neighbors.”
“Today only one third of apartments have meters. The fair use of resources will not only save budget funds but also reduce expenses of each family,” he opined.
Ukraine aims to find new energy partners. The President said it was necessary to extend the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline to the Polish city of Plotsk.
“The pipeline will transport Caspian oil to Central and Eastern Europe. This project is strategically important for both Ukraine and Europe,” he said.
We must also diversify energy supplies and “look for new partners in the world and compete for Ukraine’s participation in international energy projects.”
The Head of State remarked that Ukraine should explore its Black Sea shelf to produce own resources because of permanently growing oil and gas prices.
“In the near future we are going to involve big investors in exploring new oil and gas fields,” he said.
