Expansion of presence and strengthening on liquidity of European energy markets is fundamental for Ukraine, says presidential secretariat

12:26

President's Aide on Energy Security Bohdan Sokolovsky has said the talks between Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus on the development of energy cooperation between the two states were positive, the presidential press service reported on Tuesday.

Sokolovsky said a bilateral working group on energy would realize the agreements between the head of states and the aims set by them in the Road Map for strategic partnership between Ukraine and Lithuania for 2009-2010.

In particular, this concerns future efforts of both sides in formation of a joint Baltic-Black Sea- Caspian energy transit space.

Among the issues in energy security that are of mutual interest are cooperation in the electricity sector. By the end of next year, Lithuania is to shut down the Ingalinsk NPP, and Ukraine is interested in taking part in the project as constructor, the press service said.

"Over two years the issue creating a new NPP in Lithuania, which will be a joint object of three Baltic countries and Poland, is being elaborated," Sokolovsky said.

He said that Ukraine has much experience in the construction and decommissioning of NPPs. In October 2007, Yuschenko sent Adamkus concrete proposals on the interest of Ukraine in the potential participation of Ukrainian organizations and companies in the realization of the new project.

In the fall of 2008, expanded proposals from various Ukrainian companies were sent to Lithuania.

Sokolovsky also said that a result of shutting down the NPP would be the fact Lithuania would need large volumes of electricity. The best way to compensate for the loss of the Ingalinsk NPP's capacity is to import electricity, including from Ukraine, he said.

"Ukraine has enough potential, and it can be developed," he said. These supplies are rather realistic and they can be done in case of the creation of a reliable electricity bridge to Lithuania through Belarus.

According to preliminary evaluations, Ukrainian electricity exports to Lithuania may be around 500 MW per year.