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Energy efficiency is a driver of economic growth, he believes.
Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection of Ukraine Oleksiy Orzhel says the main priority of the new ministry and the government as a whole will be energy efficiency.
"Our main priority is energy efficiency. We have such a term in our country as energy poverty. If we continue to put pressure on [utility] bills, we will not break out of the circle of poverty," he said at his first briefing on Sept. 2.
The new Prime Minister, Oleksiy Honcharuk, and President Zelensky also focused on the energy efficiency, according to the official.
"The prime minister and the president called for making every effort for economic growth so that people can pay for energy services ... Therefore, our priority is energy efficiency," Orzhel said.
"Energy efficiency is a driver of economic growth," he added.
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According to Orzhel, Ukraine's energy strategy will be revised with emphasis on the development of its own gas production, since the country fails to utilize its production potential in full.
"The energy strategy will definitely be revised, as it is not being implemented in our country. The issue of developing gas production is a priority for us," he said.
According to the minister, Ukraine does not utilize its potential in full given that the country is dependent on gas imports, while its production remains very low, accounting for 1.2% of reserves, despite the fact that the global trend is 4-5%.
"Legislative initiatives will come soon to increase gas output. We'll try to do our best. We even talked with our American partners about market reforms and invited everyone to participate [in their implementation]," the minister said.
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As UNIAN reported earlier, on August 29, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, elected members of the Cabinet of Ministers by "package voting." Oleksiy Orzhel was appointed Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection.