JSC Ukrtransgaz, acting as the operator of UGS facilities in Ukraine, has begun preparations for certification for the use of the capacities of its UGS facilities by EU countries, the press service of the company reported on Friday.
“Ukrtransgaz has already begun preparations for passing the independent EU certification introduced for gas storage operators. The company is confident of its successful completion,” it said.
Ukraine, as a member of the Energy Community, is ready to offer up to 10 billion cubic meters of its capacity for gas storage by EU countries.
“There is a corresponding positive and comprehensive experience of cooperation with foreign customers of services. They have already had the opportunity to be convinced of the reliability of gas storage in Ukraine, and they continue to store it today in our facilities,” the press service noted.
In turn, Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) in the course of a joint presentation with Ukrtransgaz at a meeting of the South-East European Gas (SEEGAS) Initiative emphasized that the gas transportation infrastructure and UGS facilities of Ukraine can become the basis for strengthening European and regional energy security already on the eve of the next winter.
According to Olha Belkova, the director for relations with government agencies and international organizations at the GTSOU, in order to further strengthen the energy security of the region of Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine and partners from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova face the task of strengthening cooperation with countries such as Lithuania, Turkey, Greece and transatlantic partners.
She informed about the interest of Ukrainian traders in gaining access to LNG facilities in Europe. To transport gas to Ukraine from the Lithuanian and Polish LNG terminals, it is necessary to increase the guaranteed capacities on a long-term basis. There is also considerable interest in potential gas supplies from Greece and Turkey via the Trans-Balkan pipeline.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he had stopped the process of certification of Nord Stream 2.
“Today, I asked the Federal Ministry of Economics to withdraw from the Federal Network Agency [the German regulator] a report on ensuring energy security. This sounds like technical details, but this is a necessary step so that the certification of the gas pipeline could not take place now. Without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot be launched,” the German chancellor said.
Germany’s Federal Network Agency has not yet made a decision on Ukraine’s request to involve it in the certification of Nord Stream 2, the agency’s spokesperson Fiete Wulff told Interfax.
“The decision on the involvement request has not been made yet. The date of the decision has not been determined,” Wulff said.
Germany’s Federal Network Agency confirmed earlier that Ukraine asked the agency to involve it in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline’s certification process.
“The Federal Network Agency can confirm that Ukraine’s Naftogaz national joint-stock company and Gas Transmission System of Ukraine LLC have filed a request for invitation to this process,” Wulff told Interfax on November 8.
In line with the agency’s rules, those invited receive the right to give their opinions during the certification process, Wulff said.
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is undergoing certification, and a decision on the involvement of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine in the certification process will be made next week, Head of the Ukrainian Gas Transmission System Operator (GTSOU) Serhiy Makohon has said.
“A decision [on the involvement of GTS Operator of Ukraine in the certification process] is expected to be made next week,” Makohon said on Facebook.
The National Commission for Energy and Housing Utilities Regulation (NCER) has approved a preliminary decision on certification of PrJSC Ukrenergo as an independent operator of the electricity transmission system.
The corresponding document was adopted at a meeting of the regulator on October 7.
According to the previously published draft resolution, Ukrenergo by October 20 should exclude from the charter of the enterprise provisions that do not comply with the requirements of the law on the electricity market, as well as other regulatory documents regulating the energy sector.
The final decision on certification of Ukrenergo is possible after the company completes all the necessary measures specified in the preliminary decision, as well as after the Energy Community evaluates the preliminary decision.
“This is only the first step towards the certification of an independent operator. The preliminary decision will be sent to the Energy Community Secretariat, worked out, and we will expect an assessment of the document for its compliance with European law,” Oleksandr Formahei, a member of the commission, said.
As reported, in late May the NCER allowed Ukrenergo to work in the new wholesale electricity market under the old license until the company passes certification. The certification deadline is October 30, 2019, while Ukrenergo’s license is valid until this date.
Ukraine has started issuing energy efficiency certificates for building with defining the class of energy efficiency after an audit, the press service of the Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Economy Ministry of Ukraine has reported. “The certificate is a necessary tool for the operation of homeowner associations and the Energy Efficiency Fund,” Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Economy Minister Hennadiy Zubko said.
According to the press service, the energy efficiency certificate allows assessing the energy efficiency of a building and the effect of the implemented measures, and also contains recommendations on the next steps.
“Today [on September 11] we launch the energy auditors market. We have already signed a memorandum with 21 universities to create commissions for the certification of energy auditors. The second important area for us is to launch jointly with the Ministry of Education the “energy auditor” program of study in higher educational institutions. There is an agreement with [Germany’s] GIZ on conducting additional trainings for certified energy auditors not only in Ukraine, but also abroad,” Zubko added.
He also said that the ministry is waiting for the adoption of the energy efficiency bill that will create tools and regulations for more efficient energy consumption, not only in the private sector, but also in industry, aiming to reduce energy consumption in the transport and energy sectors.
