When formulating the Ukrainian Green Transition, we have to take in account the real capabilities of the Ukrainian economy. This was the message delivered by DTEK Energy’s CEO Dmytro Sakharuk during a committee hearing on the European Green Deal held in the Verkhovna Rada.
“We completely share the objectives of the European Green Deal and are deeply aware that the decarbonization is not a fashion trend but a true necessity. This is why we, being the largest Ukrainian operator of coal-fired TPPs, set an ambitious goal of becoming a carbon-neutral company in our corporate strategy,” underlined Dmytro Sakharuk.
DTEK Energy’s CEO noted that Ukraine has already made the first steps on the long and bumpy road of transition from technologies that have been exploited for over a hundred years to the new model of a low-carbon energy sector. DTEK has started its own green transition back in 2012 when the company built its first 3 MW WTG within Botievska WPP. Today, the portfolio of DTEK’s assets include 1 GW of wind and solar power plants.
As Dmytro Sakharuk noted, the transformation process would be long and challenging. Ukraine will have to reload its entire economy, the indicators of which and payments to the state budget greatly depend on the production of carbons, operation of the energy and machine building industries, and service undertakings. This is why we have to build on the real capabilities of our economy when formulating the Ukrainian Green Transition.
“We cannot blindly replicate the objectives and targets pursued by developed European economies. The things that the EU with its GDP per capita of EUR 28 thousand can afford, are not accessible, unfortunately, for Ukraine with GDP per capita almost ten times lower. The green transition has to be based on the economic models that will lay the foundation for the updated strategies and provide a basis for negotiations with the European Union. Both the green transition and a dialog with the EU have to be led by a special institution established by the executive power,” noted DTEK Energy’s CEO.
Dmytro Sakharuk further underlined that the new energy sector means a much smaller number of jobs as compared to the current situation in the coal industry. This is why it is important to start thinking right now how to create new jobs and ensure a fair transformation of the coal regions and adjacent industries.