Norway is providing a €40 million grant to support Ukraine's energy resilience, Denys Shmyhal said. This contribution will help withstand Russian attacks and ensure vital services. He made the statement at the Winter in Ukraine conference in Brussels.
Basic context
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denis Shmygal announced that Norway will provide Ukraine with a €40 million grant to support energy resilience. “This will be an important contribution to Ukraine's ability to resist Russian attacks and keep vital services running,” he said. he wrote in Telegram.
Shmyhal thanked the partners during his online speech at the Winter in Ukraine conference held in Brussels with the participation of Norwegian Foreign Minister Espena Bartha Eide and the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Marty Kos.
The Vice Prime Minister emphasised that energy - is a system of systems, and its protection should be an integral part of the energy architecture. “Ukraine is now moving towards a model of distributed generation and energy autonomy, where each element is able to operate independently, and backup equipment and recovery speed are becoming a significant security factor,” Shmyhal said.
Support for European integration and energy security
Shmyhal emphasised that Ukraine's participation in the European energy space strengthens Europe, and that deeper energy diversification and development of cross-border infrastructure are a common response to current challenges.
He noted that during the conference, important messages were delivered by the partners regarding Ukraine's European integration. In particular, the EU is ready to open negotiating Cluster 1 as early as June, and other clusters are expected to open in July this year.
The Vice Prime Minister said that since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has received more than 3,200 units of energy equipment and more than €312 million in contributions to the Energy Support Fund of Ukraine. “I am particularly grateful to Norway for its contribution to the purchase of gas for Ukraine, which is an important element of preparation for the next heating season,” Shmyhal added.
He also noted that about 40 states and international financial institutions have become part of a large winter resilience coalition that supports Ukraine's energy security.
The significance of the grant for Ukraine's energy system
The grant will help strengthen the country's energy resilience in the context of ongoing threats. Shmyhal emphasised that the speed of recovery and backup equipment are critical to the security of energy infrastructure.
Transitioning to a distributed generation model will allow each element of the power system to operate autonomously, reducing the risk of a complete blackout and increasing overall stability.
This grant from Norway will be part of Ukraine's broader strategy to integrate into the European energy space, which should contribute not only to internal security but also to strengthening energy ties with neighbouring countries.
In general, the support of international partners, including Norway, is key to ensuring the efficient functioning of Ukraine's energy infrastructure in difficult conditions.
