Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says Ukraine is getting stronger in its energy independence.
"The day before yesterday, we have discussed energy independence at a meeting on the development of nuclear energy in Netishyn, particularly the energy bridge to the European Union. The bridge is a dream that starts to come true. We are departing from the Soviet power system. Ukraine is getting stronger in its energy independence. And we will continue pursuing this strategy," he said at the Khmelnytsky Regional Development Council on March 20, according to the presidential press service.
In his words, the strategy of boosting the share of nuclear power plants in the production of electricity to 70% is now being implemented.
Ukraine established close cooperation with the U.S. company Westinghouse, and six of 13 power units of Ukraine's nuclear power plants are now using non-Russian fuel.
"This is half the nuclear generation. And the diversification goes on. It can already be argued that we managed to overcome the onerous dependence of Ukrainian nuclear power generation on Russian nuclear fuel. A few years ago the dependence was one hundred percent," Poroshenko said.
He also stressed the importance of another direction that contributes to Ukraine's energy independence – energy saving.
"Another common priority of the state and communities is energy saving and energy independence. There are 19 solar power stations in Khmelnytsky region with a total capacity of 55 MW," he said, adding that in Kamyanets-Podilsky, the World Bank opened the first in Ukraine, the third in Europe and the fifth in the world modern biothermal power plant with a capacity of 45 MW.
"Some 36 solar power stations with a total capacity of more than 370 MW are to be commissioned in Khmelnytsky region in 2019-2020 thanks to $350 million in investment," he said.
