The Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE) Anna Zamazeeva discussed with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and NEFCO urgent issues of cooperation to support the development of energy-efficient communities in Ukraine.

"It is a great honor for me to hold one of my first meetings with international partners with you as the Head of the State on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE). Because Finland is undoubtedly one of the main strategic partners on the way to making Ukraine an energy-efficient and green country", said Anna Zamazeeva.

Cooperation is highly effective and demonstrates practical results. As you know, thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and NEFCO, the Finnish-Ukrainian trust fund was created, within which 30 projects were successfully implemented.

In addition, NEFCO actively supports Ukrainian municipalities in the implementation of energy-efficient projects and has launched the Green Recovery Program for Ukraine.

"I would like to express my special thanks for supporting the project of humanitarian aid for Ukrainian cities suffering from russian brutal aggression," said Anna Zamazeeva.

Also within the partnership, the parties plan to hold joint events in the regions for communities and local businesses, supporting them in the implementation of energy management, energy service and other energy efficiency projects.

At the same time, the Head of SAEE focused the partners' attention on the need to deepen cooperation in the context of the country's reconstruction.

"We strongly believe that recovery should be based on energy efficiency. Therefore, we have planned many tasks that we want to implement in the near future. We invite you to a partnership," said the Head of SAEE. She also drew the attention of partners to the relevance of such areas for Ukraine as, for example:

• energy-efficient restoration;

• increasing the use of renewable energy sources in all sectors of the economy;

• optimization of water pumping stations by installing solar panels and heat pumps;

• modernization of centralized heat supply;

• bioenergy projects;

• use of renewable energy sources and alternative types of fuel in centralized heat supply;

• hydrogen technologies introduction;

• biomethane production;

• financial mechanisms for implementing green projects.

Taking into account that the current partnership project will end this year, the parties discussed the need to work out the continuation of cooperation within the framework of other programs or projects, as well as updating the memorandum on cooperation between the State Energy Efficiency Agency of Ukraine (SAEE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland for the further initiation of new joint initiatives and financial instruments.