Official visit of the delegation of Ukrenergo to the United States
Mykhailo Bno-Airiian
Special trade representative at Federation of employers of Ukraine, diplomat and economist
Last week together with Vsevolod Kovalchuk we visited the United States.
The key conclusion that can be drawn from the results of the meetings – official Washington in its external energy policy towards Ukraine is paying more and more attention to the electric power industry.
A noteworthy element - the integration of the Ukrainian grid in the ENTSO-E network and our joining the European energy market.
Moreover, this strategic goal is considered not only as a way to reduce Ukraine's dependence on Russia. The American party sees in it a chance for the development of competition in the electricity market, without which it is impossible to fully launch a new market model. As well as opportunities for new investments in the Ukrainian power complex, of course.
An important one was the meeting with the Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette — a person, who is currently in charge of US-Ukraine strategic energy dialogue on the part of the USA, that was initiated by the Secretary of Energy Rick Perry during his visit to Ukraine in early November.
At this meeting we discussed three following things:
- Integration of the Ukrainian grid in the European power grid ENTSO-E.
- Critical infrastructure protection.
- Launch of a robust electricity market in Ukraine.
Similar topics were discussed during meetings at the United States Department of State, with USAID leadership, the United States Congress.
The need to focus on the electricity sector was also discussed within a big meeting at the Kennan Institute (organized with the support of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future (Prokip Andrian).There we told about new opportunities for US business that become available due to the electricity reform of Ukraine and integration in the ENTSO-E.