Energy efficiency on frontline of Ukraine’s fight with Russia

(EurActiv, 30 Jul 2015) Energy efficiency measures are increasingly on the frontline of war-torn Ukraine’s fight to lessen its dependence on Russian gas, after the crisis that led to the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine needs to import gas from Russia’s state-owned Gazprom for its domestic market, which includes 14 million households.

Those households will have to pay for much-needed investment to the country’s aging infrastructure, with bills rocketing by nearly four times.

Costs have traditionally been subsidised by the state but, with the Ukraine reeling from two international bailouts since 2008, customers will have to pay more.

The price for consumers is set to increase to 1,590 Ukrainian hryvnia (about €65) per thousand cubic metres (kcm) from UAH 419/kcm (€17).

External link

EurActiv, 30 Jul 2015: Energy efficiency on frontline of Ukraine’s fight with Russia