Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Energy, Anatolii Korzun, held a meeting with a GIZ delegation led by Miriam Faulwetter, Director of the project "Just Transition of Coal Regions and Green Recovery of Ukraine's Energy Sector."
The key topic of the meeting was the continued support for coal regions in transitioning to more sustainable energy solutions to enhance energy security.
The discussion included the outcomes of the cooperation within the framework of the project "Just Transition and Green Recovery of Ukraine," implemented by GIZ since 2021 at the request of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Special attention was given to future collaboration and opportunities to expand the geographical focus of these projects.
Miriam Faulwetter noted that the German side plans to focus on energy security and economic development in transitioning regions. They also intend to continue working at the national level to align Ukraine's legal framework with EU standards.
"We hope to continue close cooperation with GIZ and expand existing projects to other coal region communities. The Ministry of Energy also supports the need to align Ukrainian legislation on coal region transformation, particularly mine closures, with European norms. We welcome the relevant initiatives of GIZ and are ready to provide the necessary support for their implementation," noted the Deputy Minister.
The parties discussed the technical, organizational, and legal aspects of mine closures and the possibility of involving the private sector in achieving the goals of a just transition for coal regions.
