On July 5, an extended meeting of the Presidium of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities was held under the chairmanship of the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky.
The event was attended by President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrey Ermak, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko, Head of the National Bank of Ukraine Andrey Pyshny.
Among the invited guests are diplomats from foreign countries, representatives of international organizations, heads of regional military administrations, representatives of communities and local authorities. In total there were about 160 participants at the event.
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Energy situation
The head of our state noted that one of the key issues for our country remains the energy situation.
– Everyone in Ukraine is feeling the consequences of Russian terrorist attacks on energy facilities. A significant part of the electricity generation in Ukraine was destroyed by this terror. The government of Ukraine received a clear task, namely: to develop a package of solutions so that our people, all Ukrainian communities, Ukrainian companies can overcome this situation and ensure a real opportunity for themselves to receive energy, despite Russian terror, Zelensky said.
According to him, resolving energy issues is complex and requires not only steps to support citizens, but also ensuring physical protection and restoration of energy facilities, cooperation with partners on importing electricity from the EU to Ukraine, and creating opportunities to create new generating capacities. < /p>
— First, officials must present the specific steps that have already been prepared. These are legislative proposals, Government resolutions and decisions of other central government bodies, opportunities provided by the National Bank and the Ukrainian banking system.
It would also be right now to hear feedback from communities directly on government work and proposals. In addition, we must decide on our common priorities in communication with partners. About what exactly should be mandatory in supporting Ukraine in the coming months – before the heating season, – emphasized Vladimir Zelensky.
Photo: Congress of local and regional authorities under the President of Ukraine
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal stressed that currently, on the instructions of the president, the government is already working in five areas. These include: the rapid restoration of energy facilities, their protection while increasing the number of air defense systems, the development of a decentralized energy system, increasing the import of electricity from Europe, as well as attracting funds and equipment from foreign partners.
– Today the situation is extremely difficult. We have lost almost half a generation, 9 GW is our loss. Therefore, on instructions from the National Security and Defense Council and the President, we are focused on decentralization. Key steps have already been taken. I would like to thank the communities that are already involved in supporting the decentralized energy system. As of today, many cities and communities operate similar, slightly smaller products. I think that the synergy of cooperation between the state and communities will produce results,” he said.
First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko noted that, according to the IMF, during the full-scale invasion the energy sector suffered losses of $56.5 billion
— The Russians have destroyed about 9 GW of installed capacity, while consumption peaked at 18 GW last winter. To understand the scale, the lost generating capacity exceeds the total installed capacity of, for example, neighboring Slovakia. Now this is problem number 1 for citizens and businesses,” emphasized Yulia Sviridenko.
According to the minister, the state is now introducing a number of programs that will begin to work on July 20 of this year. We are talking, in particular, about:
interest-free loans to citizens for the installation of energy equipment with a capacity of up to 10 kW;
loans for business from UAH 150 million for energy efficiency, alternative generation and other purposes. They will be provided by 19 banking institutions, in particular Oschadbank, PrivatBank, Ukrgasbank and others;
providing an opportunity for condominiums and housing cooperatives to participate in a preferential lending program for the installation of equipment for alternative electricity generation.
In addition, preferential business lending programs are already available under the state program of 5-7-9% for the purchase and installation of gas-fired power generating units. For de-occupied and front-line territories, preferential conditions apply – the interest rate has been reduced.
The head of the National Bank of Ukraine Andrey Pyshny stated that currently 19 Ukrainian banks have joined the signing of the memorandum. According to the document, they will be able to provide preferential lending for projects to restore energy infrastructure.
– This is an unprecedented, historical moment. It was possible to unite 19 banks under this memorandum, which provides support for the restoration of energy infrastructure. An important element is that this memorandum brought together government, commercial institutions and banks simultaneously for the development of capital, — he emphasized.
Representatives of the regions also had the opportunity to talk about their own experience in implementing projects and involving them in state energy restoration programs. The meeting participants heard information about the situation in the Kharkov, Zhytomyr, Lviv regions, as well as in Kyiv.
Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko reported that a decision had already been made on activities in the energy sector for the period of martial law.
Photo: Congress of local and regional authorities under the President of Ukraine
— We decided that during the wartime period, for business entities, regardless of their form of ownership, to establish appropriate generation facilities, it is not necessary to develop appropriate urban planning documentation, obtain urban planning conditions and restrictions on development, obtain the right to carry out work, or heat supply schemes , allotment of land plots and receipt of reports and examinations. “Everything that really took months before is not required at all today,” he noted.
In addition, it will be possible to operate such facilities without obtaining the appropriate certificates of acceptance for operation.
Simplification of conditions led to a reduction in the period of connection to gas networks from three months to one. A decision has also been made on the number of documents that need to be submitted.
Hotline for citizens
At the same time, German Galushchenko drew attention to the fact that a hotline is now operating. On it, citizens can get help if they fail to comply with the standards for establishing, registering and connecting generation facilities.
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrey Ermak drew attention to the fact that all government support instruments should be accessible, transparent, understandable and as simple as possible.
Photo: Congress of local and regional authorities under the President of Ukraine
— The economy is in dire need of additional generation. Therefore, financial instruments for citizens, condominiums and businesses should start working as quickly as possible. It is immediately necessary to speed up work on the construction of an alternative generation, he noted.
Andrey Ermak also announced the beginning of the practice of regular briefings on the situation in Ukraine – they will be held once every two weeks.
About the Congress: what it does
Congress was created on February 25, 2021. His work is based on the task of the President of Ukraine to establish close interaction between central government bodies and local governments to develop coordinated decisions in order to improve the quality of life of people in all regions of the state.
The Congress focuses on security issues for our communities and regions, social protection of the population, especially internally displaced persons, and restoration of energy infrastructure.
