You're reading: US interested in helping Ukraine to diversify sources of energy, says ambassador

The United States are interested in helping Ukraine to diversify sources of energy supply thanks to the development of internal extraction of fossil fuel, including unconventional gas and the increase in the role of renewable energy in the balance of energy, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt has said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

“I’m delighted about what is going on in wind energy, solar energy, in the area of unconventional gas, shale gas and oil. Everything allows diversifying sources of supplies, stabilizing the economy, increasing the number of jobs, improving competitiveness, strengthening independence and sovereignty, territorial integrity, which are the key principles for the United States,” the diplomat said.

U.S. companies are interested in participating in wind energy projects, he said.

The ambassador also said that it is important to diversify supplies of nuclear fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs), which generate almost the half of all power consumed in the country. The realization of a contract for the supply of fresh fuel assemblies signed by U.S. Westinghouse and Ukraine’s National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom, the operator of Ukrainian NPPs, is beneficial to the two sides, Pyatt said.

“Guaranteeing efficiency in the sector is extremely important for the competitiveness of the Ukrainian economy… The arrival of Westinghouse will create competition. This is a good thing for Ukraine, as it will strengthen its position,” he said.

The arrival of Exxon Mobil and Chevron to Ukraine will be an important positive signal for the rest of the U.S business society, the diplomat said.

“These companies are working transparently, so the involvement of the companies in the Ukrainian energy market will promote the increase of its transparency. I think that this is a good signal for the economy in the long-term outlook,” he added.