Ministry of Energy: Ukraine will have to increase electricity tariffs

Ukraine will have to make the decision to increase electricity tariffs, otherwise the country's power system will not be able to prepare for the next winter.

Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Energy Farid Safarov said this on national television, according to Ukrinform.

"Any tariff changes during growth peaks are difficult and forced decisions. Currently, the government and the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities are working to understand how much the tariff should be increased. But such a decision will still have to be made, because otherwise the energy industry will not only be able to recover, but will also not be able to prepare for the next winter that may be much more difficult than the previous one," Safarov said.

He added that international partners also provide support in the field of recovery of the Ukrainian energy industry. This is both equipment and funds. At this time, Ukraine has already received EUR 150 million from the EU for the energy support fund and a 200 million grant from the World Bank. But, according to Safarov, these funds are not enough.

Safarov noted that assistance would be provided to vulnerable categories of the population so that they can pay for electricity. Sources of funding for this assistance can be revenues from electricity exports or financial assistance from partners, he said.

So far, there is no final decision on the size of the electricity tariff, Safarov said.