Online conference ‘How to Create Jobs in Coal Communities in the Midst of Green Transition?’ was held in Dobropillia on 27 May. The Program and planned areas for economic diversification of the region as well as areas for further interaction between stakeholders involved in the process of a just transformation for coal communities were presented during the event.
The coal industry stands on the brink of changes that will be brought by the green transition of Ukraine that envisages the gradual shut-down of coal mines. This will be done within the scope of Ukraine’s European commitments. This is why we should start thinking about the future of the coal communities today.
Thanks to the support extended by DTEK ENERGY, Dobropillia has become one of the first coal regions that have launched the ‘Program for Economic Diversification of the Dobropillia Territorial Community during the Green Transition’. This program sets out a plan for the social and economic development of the local community in the midst of new realities. The program covers three years and includes over 40 projects aimed at creating new jobs in various industries.
The online meeting held on 27 May was attended by leaders of coal communities, representatives of the mining town section of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the State Energy Efficiency Fund, Ukrainian MPs Viktoriia Hryb and Andrii Aksionov, Valentyna Moskalenko, Regional Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, representatives of expert organizations Germanwatch, Ecoaction, ASTAR, Alternatyva, Torsten Woellert, Team Leader for the Energy and Environment of the Support Group for Ukraine in the European Commission, and Alexander Johannes Huurdemann, the World Bank expert in the transformation of coal communities. The participants discussed energy efficiency, technologies for reducing the dependence of heating systems on coal, opportunities for attracting investments to the region, availability of expert and financial support required to facilitate a just transformation, and cooperation within the framework of a Ukrainian-German partnership.
Following the discussions, the parties approved a list of steps that would be undertaken to implement the Program. In particular, the Donetsk Region State Administration expressed it readiness to consider the possibility of using waste rock produced from mines for road construction. The participants reached agreement on the need for the development of joint inter-region partnerships to create production chains with added value within the framework of the Platform of Coal Mining Towns of Donetsk Region. They also agreed to prepare a joint memorandum addressed to the Energy Efficiency Fund to ask for streamlining the access to its financial resources for coal communities.
DTEK supports the European Green Deal as an EU economic development strategy. The company gives a top priority to a climate policy, sustainable financing, and a just social transformation of coal mining communities. DTEK is a socially responsible business and a reliable partner to a society, and this is why the company is committed to supporting social and economic development where DTEK ENERGY’s businesses operate.