Reform of the coal industry and the gradual abandonment of thermal generation are important factors in decarbonization and the achievement of climate neutrality, said the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko during a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain to Ukraine Melinda Simmons.
“Decarbonization is one of the key challenges that we face. To achieve the goal in the near future, it is necessary to take certain steps in this direction now. This is a question, first of all, of modernization and replacement of thermal generation. The second aspect is the transformation of the coal industry and regions. It is important for us to carry out a pilot transformation project and extend this experience to other mines, ”said German Galushchenko.
The Department of Energy is already cooperating with the British side in the implementation of a pilot project for the transformation of one of the coal mines and is ready to meet at a working level with representatives of the international consulting company Environmental Resources Management to complete the mine selection and launch the project as soon as possible. The parties discussed technical issues and agreed on ways to accelerate the implementation of the project.
The Minister of Energy also noted that his department is closely cooperating with the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development on the transformation of the coal industries.
“Our movement in the direction of decarbonization in itself is quite right to modernize the economic component. At the same time, the phasing out of fossil fuels will take place gradually and in parallel with the equitable transformation of coal regions. For us, the social aspect is in the first place - to retrain people, provide them with jobs, Treat veterans who have worked in mines all their lives, ”said Herman Galushchenko.
