Ukraine has all the prerequisites to become a key energy center in Europe. This was stated during a meeting with journalists in Kyiv by the U.S. Department of Energy Special Envoy Joshua Voltz and Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Energy Andy Repp. They emphasized that Ukraine can fulfill this role due to the development of gas infrastructure, significant potential for energy storage, transit capabilities, and close cooperation with the U.S. in the field of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
This is reported by Finway
Potential of Ukrainian storage facilities and LNG prospects
U.S. officials stressed that the United States is considering expanding LNG supplies to Ukraine. In particular, they noted the possibility of developing infrastructure for the storage, extraction, and transportation of LNG. According to Andy Repp, the U.S. is already the world’s largest exporter of liquefied gas and plans to double export volumes by the end of this decade.
“You (in Ukraine – ed.) have the largest storage facility in all of Europe, which could truly become a ‘bridge’ for all of Central and Western Europe. And so I think this is something we could focus on together in partnership with the American industry,” he said.
Repp also added that Ukraine is viewed not only as a consumer of imported gas but also as a potential producer, as it possesses significant domestic natural resources for gas extraction. Among the promising areas of cooperation, he highlighted the creation of modern infrastructure for LNG regasification in Ukraine.
Integration into the European energy system and development of transit capabilities
Joshua Voltz emphasized that historically, Ukraine has been an important transit country for energy resources to the European market. Currently, the U.S. is working on launching the so-called “Vertical Corridor,” which will allow the transportation of energy resources from the south to the north of Europe, including through Ukrainian territory. Voltz paid special attention to the significance of Ukrainian gas storage facilities, existing energy infrastructure, and integration with the European energy system.
He noted that Ukraine has every chance of becoming the heart of the European energy transmission and production system once again.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the desire to conclude contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas from the U.S. through LNG terminals and expressed Ukraine’s readiness to become a hub for further transportation of LNG to European Union countries.