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Government urges industry for Ukraine energy support

17 November 2022

Government urges industry for Ukraine energy support

The business and energy secretary Grant Shapps has issued an appeal to UK industry to supply Ukraine with more power generation equipment to repair the widespread damage caused by Russian attacks.

He says that, “since October, Putin has been waging a brutal and targeted war against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Over 40 per cent has been damaged or destroyed. With winter around the corner, millions from Kyiv to Kherson are without energy supply, forced to confront the fearsome prospect of cold days and dark nights. 

“Ukrainian energy companies are working tirelessly to repair damaged infrastructure. But they urgently need more energy equipment.” 

The Energy Community Secretariat has been coordinating and transporting business-to-business donations of such specialised relief since March 2022, in cooperation with the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) of the European Union. So far, 33 shipments of urgently needed energy equipment and materials have been successfully delivered to Ukraine, including donations from the UK. 

The UK government believes that the private sector also has an important role in supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction by supplying emergency energy equipment such as generators, transformers, cables and connectors.

Grant Shapps said: “I call on the generosity of the UK industry to join the government in donating emergency energy equipment and resources through the Energy Support Fund. This will help rebuild what has been damaged by Putin’s illegal invasion as we continue to stand with the people of Ukraine.”

The UK government is now providing £10 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, set up and managed by the Energy Community Secretariat. The Energy Community Ukraine Taskforce can assist UK companies supplying equipment and provide guidance on the most urgent needs. More information on the initiative can be downloaded here

The UK is the largest donor to the Fund so far, along with sending hospital generators and a financial guarantee for Ukraine’s state-owned energy provider. 

The UK has also provided £7 million for over 850 generators so that vital facilities, such as hospitals, have power and a further £5 million for safety and security equipment for the civil nuclear sector. This support included the supply by Speedy of 287 mobile Pramac generators (below) to Ukraine this summer, as reported on the blog at the time.

Ukrainian minister of energy, Herman Halushchenko, said: “UK has been helping Ukraine’s energy sector since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Today it is making a significant contribution to the Energy Support Fund. This will make it possible to purchase the necessary equipment for our energy companies, which is difficult to do as a part of humanitarian aid."

The Department for International Trade is also working with relevant UK trade associations and Ukrainian energy companies to identify areas where UK expertise and equipment can be provided to help with vital maintenance of Ukraine’s energy supply infrastructure.

● The Energy Community is an international organisation consisting of the European Union and a number of non-EU countries. Since March 2022, it has been coordinating donations of specialised energy equipment to repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure at the Government of Ukraine’s request.

Ukraine was exporting electricity to the rest of Europe until exports were suspended on 12 October 2022 due to the damage to critical infrastructure. This funding will support the Ukrainian government to rebuild the electricity sector and provide much-needed supply to the international market over the longer term. The UK’s offer of £10 million to the Energy Support Fund was announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in July 2022.

Government urges industry for Ukraine energy support

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