The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine continues to expand cooperation with French partners in the fields of distributed generation and nuclear energy, aiming to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system amid intensified Russian attacks.
Deputy Minister of Energy Roman Andarak held a meeting with a French delegation led by Thierry Salmon, Regional Advisor on Nuclear Energy responsible for Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia. The delegation also included Romain Destieux, Director of Business France Ukraine, Arno Stolzlien, Managing Partner of Ecosun, and Mathilde Arzakowski, Deputy Head of the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Ukraine.
During the discussions, the parties reviewed ongoing and potential areas of collaboration to enhance Ukraine’s energy security and resilience.
The Deputy Minister expressed gratitude to France for its steadfast support of the Ukrainian energy sector since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which has included 45 humanitarian shipments of energy equipment weighing around 410 tons. He also outlined Ukraine’s current energy needs and areas where further cooperation could help bolster resilience and recovery.
During the meeting, the participants focused on expanding cooperation in the development of distributed generation, particularly in the field of renewable energy. They discussed prospects for implementing innovative solutions in solar power generation, energy storage, and accumulation systems, which are critical to enhancing Ukraine’s energy resilience.
A separate part of the discussions was devoted to cooperation in the nuclear sector. The parties reviewed potential projects to develop and modernize Ukraine’s nuclear generation capacities, as well as initiatives aimed at ensuring nuclear and radiation safety.
Special attention was paid to the security threats posed by the situation at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The participants emphasized the urgent need to increase international pressure on Russia and to restore full control of the plant to a licensed Ukrainian operator, ensuring its safe and lawful operation under international standards.
