The ten-year "roadmap" of the mining and metallurgical holding Metinvest of Ukrainian businessmen Rinat Akhmetov and Vadim Novinsky to reduce CO 2 emissions is under development and it is too early to make statements on the timing of achieving carbon neutrality, the head company Yuri Ryzhenkov in interview The Brussels Times.
“Metinvest assumes responsibility for all the obligations it undertakes. All of our environmental claims are backed up by a step-by-step action plan that sets out how much we can reduce and at what cost. Metinvest's 10-year CO 2 roadmap is under development. As soon as we understand how we can become carbon-neutral, we will announce this, ”Ryzhenkov said.
He noted that in order to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, Ukraine and its enterprises will need huge financial assistance. However, unlike many EU companies that have received support from the European Commission to modernize and improve their environmental friendliness, Ukrainian companies are forced to finance their modernization projects on their own, since government assistance is not available.
“For the decarbonization of all of Europe, efforts will be required in each specific country, including Ukraine. At the same time, it is important to ensure that decarbonization does not lead to the de-industrialization of the EU and Ukraine in particular. In fact, imports from Ukraine are an important part of the rolling steel model, which brings significant benefits to the EU market. This makes it possible to adapt to market fluctuations, preserves numerous production facilities and creates thousands of jobs for EU steel workers. Thus, full integration of Ukraine into the EU steel supply chain will only make the EU market stronger and more resilient to external shocks, ”the head of Metinvest said.
Recall that, at the initiative of the European Commission, on July 23, 2020, a public discussion began on the proposed EU carbon border management mechanism (CBAM), which over time may become a new form of trade barrier. The European Commission is expected to formally submit relevant draft laws to Parliament and Council in 2021.
CBAM is part of the European Green Deal, which has now become the main driving force behind the EU's recovery plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is in line with the EU's strategic industrial goal of “leveling the playing field” between companies in the EU and their competitors other countries.
The Ukrainian government recently announced its intention to engage with the European Commission on CBAM as part of the ongoing dialogue between the EU and Ukraine.
