NEW UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT URGED TO PURSUE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY/SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT TO PROTECT
NATIONAL SECURITY & ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Ukrainian-American Environmental Association (UAEA)
Rivne, Ukraine/Washington, D.C., Thursday, October 25, 2007
RIVNE, Ukraine/WASHINGTON, DC - In a letter delivered today to
the leaders of the five political parties expected to constitute the next
Ukrainian Parliament, the Ukrainian-American Environmental Association
(UAEA) urged that "energy security and sustainable energy development
[be made] top priorities."
UAEA suggested that "it is technically and economically feasible for
Ukraine to achieve independence from energy imports within a timeframe
far shorter than that envisioned by [Ukraine's] National Energy
Strategy. [In fact,] if Ukraine brought its levels of energy
consumption per unit of GDP just down to the world average, it could
eliminate most and possibly all of its energy imports."
The letter further noted that "Ukraine could be meeting a significant
share of its supply needs in the relatively near future from the mix of
renewable energy technologies. Ukraine may have the best biomass
resources in all of Europe as well as one of the best offshore wind
regimes on the continent. It also has significant, but largely
untapped, geothermal and small hydropower resources as well as
modest solar energy potential."
The letter concluded that "a national energy strategy based on vastly
improved energy efficiency, substantial increases in renewable energy
development, and a shift to domestic supplies of fossil fuels could
make Ukraine energy self-sufficient in a relatively short time.
Moreover, such an approach would enable Ukraine to re-evaluate its
current emphasis on nuclear power expansion, which we believe to be an
unnecessarily expensive and environmentally dangerous course of
action." The complete text of the letter follows:
October 25, 2007
Leader - Block of Yulia Timoshenko, Y. V. Timoshenko
Leader - Block of Peoples Self-Defense, Y. V. Lytsenko
Leader - Party of Regions, Prime Minister of Ukraine V. F. Yanukovich
Leader - Block of Lytvyn, V. M. Lytvyn
Leader - Communist Party of Ukraine, P. M. Symonenko
Dear Sirs/Madam:
As you prepare to convene the newly-reconstituted Rada and government,
we are writing to urge that you stress energy security and sustainable
energy development as top priorities. The importance of these issues
was once again made apparent by Gazprom's threat to reduce natural gas
supplies the day after Ukraine's elections.
We believe that it is technically and economically feasible for Ukraine
to achieve independence from energy imports within a timeframe far
shorter than that envisioned by the National Energy Strategy. And we
believe that a national energy program that emphasizes improved energy
efficiency and renewable energy development could yield major economic
as well as national security benefits for Ukraine.
Inasmuch as the Ukrainian economy is among the most energy-intensive -
but also the most energy wasteful - in the world, we believe that a far
more aggressive campaign to improve energy efficiency in industry,
transportation, agriculture, buildings, and government should be the
top priority.
In theory, at least, if Ukraine brought its levels of energy consumption
per unit of GDP just down to the world average, it could eliminate most
and possibly all of its energy imports. If Ukraine further improved its
energy efficiency to the levels of either the United States or the European
Union, it could actually become a net energy producer.
We also believe that Ukraine could be meeting a significant share of
its supply needs in the relatively near future from the mix of
renewable energy technologies. Ukraine may have the best biomass
resources in all of Europe as well as one of the best offshore wind
regimes on the continent.
It also has significant, but largely untapped, geothermal and small
hydropower resources as well as modest solar energy potential. The
European Union is striving to meet 20 percent of its energy needs
from renewables by 2020; there is no reason why Ukraine could not
be striving for a comparable goal rather than be satisfied with the 2-3
Finally, we believe that supply needs that cannot be offset by energy
efficiency improvements or met with renewable energy sources can be
largely satisfied by increased domestic production of natural gas, oil,
and coal. While concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas
emissions from fossil fuels suggest that total energy consumption from
these sources should be reduced from current levels, it is possible to
displace natural gas and oil imports with domestic sources to meet
legitimate needs.
In total, a national energy strategy based on vastly improved energy
efficiency, substantial increases in renewable energy development, and
a shift to domestic supplies of fossil fuels could make Ukraine energy
self-sufficient in a relatively short time. Moreover, such an approach
would enable Ukraine to re-evaluate its current emphasis on nuclear
power expansion, which we believe to be an unnecessarily expensive and
environmentally dangerous course of action.
During the coming year, the Ukrainian-American Environmental
Association is planning to issue a series of a dozen or more short
studies (perhaps one per month beginning in early 2008) that will
assess the status and potential of energy efficiency and renewable
energy options in Ukraine. The papers will also draw upon the
experience of the United States and the European Union for particularly
effective policy strategies that may be transferable to Ukraine.
We will be happy to share these materials with you and work with you to
develop effective policies to promote a sustainable energy future for
Ukraine and to meet its energy, environmental, economic, and national
security needs.
Sincerely, Taras Lychuk, Ken Bossong
Co-Directors, Ukrainian-American Environmental Association