Ukraine, Qatar to develop cooperation in energy sector

The promising areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Qatar include medium- and long-term LNG contracts, the construction of LNG/LPG plants and the development of transport using natural gas, investments in the gas transmission system, oil refining industry and Ukrainian hydrocarbon production.

Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister Maksym Nemchynov said this at the second meeting of the joint Ukrainian-Qatari intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and technical cooperation, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry's press service reported.

"LNG is one of the alternative directions of natural gas supply to Ukraine, which can ensure the diversification of energy supplies. This will help strengthen Ukraine's energy security after 2024," Nemchynov said.

Ukraine has significant prospects for the development of the LNG market. In particular, there are reverse supplies of natural gas in the amount of 10-14 billion cubic meters through Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. In the medium term (five to seven years), Ukraine can diversify gas supplies by establishing LNG supplies through the infrastructure of neighboring countries or by building its own infrastructure.

"The geopolitical situation and the reduction of transit volumes make us look for new areas of trade and cooperation to ensure the loading of our own gas transmission system. That is why cooperation with the State of Qatar in terms of LNG supplies is an important priority for us," Nemchynov said.

He also outlined the promising areas of partnership, including possible options for concluding LNG contracts starting from 2022 (on a medium- and long-term basis), cooperation on the construction of LNG/LPG plants and the development of transport using natural gas (CNG/LNG) as fuel, as well as attracting investments in the gas transmission system, the oil refining industry, and Ukrainian hydrocarbon production.

The main areas for the future partnership between Ukraine and Qatar also include decarbonisation and hydrogen energy, Nemchynov said.

A protocol was signed after the meeting of the commission, which envisages cooperation between Ukraine and Qatar in the energy sector, including in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the gas industry.

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