BRUSSELS - The 'cheap energy' concept in the current economic conditions has lost edge for Ukraine, while attempts to retain it hinder the country's development, a representative of the Support Group for Ukraine created in the European Commission, Torsten Woellert, has said during an international expert discussion of the electricity market development in Ukraine on May 24 in Brussels.
Each person in Ukraine understands that the situation when cheap energy is subsidized by a third country, in particular, Russia is the issue of the past. This should be subsidized inside the country, but the question is who is to do this, he said.
He believes that the overall answer to this question is defined by the situation on the market, the social security system and people cultivating new habits to save energy.
Woellert focused on the provision of energy efficiency not only in industry, but in the utilities sector.
He warned against growth of populism in Ukraine around the increase of tariffs. He said that there are fears in Ukrainian society that all segments of population would be able to pay bills for electricity. He again said that the social security system in the state, not the ‘cheap energy’ concept should answer these questions.
