In his address at today’s meeting on efficient use of energy resources President Yushchenko criticized Ukrainian economy for low energy saving adding that this issue is critical for national security.
According to President Yushchenko despite the fact that in some sectors consumption of electricity has decreased in last decade almost twice, it remains three times higher than in European Union countries. In times of economic crisis it is unacceptable, he said.
Also the President pointed to the fact that Ukraine is the fourth leading among EU countries in possession of alternative energy sources, yet alternative energy consumption in Ukraine estimates to only 0,83% of total.
Victor Yushchenko criticized the Government for energy resources pricing policy saying that it does not stimulate energy saving. He also added that the policy of irrational consumption of energy resources puts a great burden on the budget when these funds could have been used for other purposes.
The President also criticized financing of state energy saving program and the program of supporting development of alternative renewable sources of energy, stressing that these two programs directly manage the abovementioned problems.
He expressed assurance that local authorities should be the first to promote and implement energy saving projects with support from central government. Therefore President Yushchenko instructed each region’s government to elaborate and approve energy saving programs of their own.
