Ukraine has joined the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an association country with the aim of expanding efforts to increase the country’s energy security and progress its energy transition.
A joint declaration was signed by Ukraine’s Minister of Energy German Galushchenko and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
The joint declaration states that Ukraine and the IEA intend to work together to develop policy and build capacity in a wide range of energy-related fields, including market analysis, energy system reconstruction, energy security, efficiency, accelerated energy transitions, hydrogen and biomethane, and energy data and statistics.
The specific initiatives are to be agreed upon in two-year joint work programmes.
The signing of the joint association declaration at a ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, took place in the presence of Polish Climate and Environment Minister Anna Moskwa.
The IEA Governing Board agreed on June 16 to welcome Ukraine as the IEA’s eleventh association country, reflecting the agency’s “full support” for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression.
The Governing Board’s decision highlighted Ukraine’s important energy security role and IEA support for its reconstruction efforts.
“The IEA has been working with Ukraine for almost two decades, and in these particularly challenging times following Russia’s unprovoked invasion, we are further strengthening the relationship to support Ukraine’s significant reconstruction needs and help it build a new energy future,” said Birol.
He added: “Ukraine has an important energy security role in Europe and beyond – and it has set ambitious goals to increase energy trade with Europe and transition to cleaner energy.
“I’m delighted to be signing the Joint Declaration with Minister Galushchenko to expand our cooperation for achieving these goals.”
The IEA’s Association framework allows the IEA to work closely and deepen cooperation with its partner countries, sharing analysis, data and best practices.
The other association countries are Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand.
IEA “family members” now represent some 75% of global energy demand.