In his address at yesterday’s meeting on efficient use of energy
resources President Yushchenko criticized Ukrainian economy for low
energy saving adding that this issue is critical for national security, presidential press office reported.
According to President Yushchenko despite the fact that in some
sectors consumption of electricity has decreased in last decade almost
twice, it remains three times higher than in European Union countries.
In times of economic crisis it is unacceptable, he said.
Also the President pointed to the fact that Ukraine is the fourth
leading among EU countries in possession of alternative energy sources,
yet alternative energy consumption in Ukraine estimates to only 0,83%
of total.
Victor Yushchenko criticized the Government for energy resources
pricing policy saying that it does not stimulate energy saving. He also
added that the policy of irrational consumption of energy resources
puts a great burden on the budget when these funds could have been used
for other purposes.
The President also criticized financing of state energy saving program
and the program of supporting development of alternative renewable
sources of energy, stressing that these two programs directly manage
the abovementioned problems.
He expressed assurance that local authorities should be the first to
promote and implement energy saving projects with support from central
government. Therefore President Yushchenko instructed each region’s
government to elaborate and approve energy saving programs of their own.
