Following the G7 Energy Minister’s meeting, Canada and the United States committed to helping Ukraine by supporting the diversification of its energy sources and by sharing our expertise and knowledge. Events in Ukraine underscore the importance of energy diversification as a cornerstone of economic and global stability. Vulnerable or unreliable energy supplies are having a serious impact in Ukraine and are a cause of increasing concern across Europe.
As global leaders with extensive energy resources and technical and policy expertise, Canada and the U.S. recognize that their attention to energy issues must go beyond bilateral collaboration and that there is a role to play on the global energy stage. As global leaders, Canada and the U.S. are taking concrete action to help Ukraine define its energy needs. Initial steps include:
- Earlier in September, Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Geological Survey completed a joint five-day reconnaissance mission to Kyiv to develop a plan with local officials to provide geoscience expertise to Ukraine, a first step toward greater Ukrainian energy diversification. One of the goals is to collaborate with Ukrainian geoscience organizations to help build capacity and enhance expertise to meet the increasing energy needs of a country undergoing significant changes and threats to its natural gas energy supply.
Ukraine has two major basins where shale gas is known to exist in northeastern and southwestern expanses. It is one of Europe’s prospects for new gas exploration. During this mission, Canada and the U.S. visited several organizations in Ukraine to discuss current capabilities related to energy, including the availability and access to geological data.
- Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of Energy will undertake a joint trip to assist Ukraine in developing an energy contingency plan. The goal of the mission, to take place in September, will be to support Ukraine’s efforts to develop a viable energy contingency plan that could be used in the event of an energy shortage.
- Canada and the U.S. are planning a joint mission to Ukraine in 2014 to share regulatory and policy expertise and knowledge on unconventional energy. The objective is to present Canadian and U.S. regulatory frameworks and to share their best practices and lessons learned in unconventional oil and gas development. The long-term objective is to assist Ukraine in developing its energy resources and attracting investment by setting the appropriate regulatory, fiscal and environmental framework for the development of their shale resources.
This will help Ukraine modernize its energy supply and demand policy to help them withstand systemic energy shocks. Sharing information about Canadian and U.S. environmental and regulatory frameworks will contribute to making Ukraine’s business environment more flexible, transparent and competitive.
- In September, Natural Resources Canada will participate in the delegation of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to the annual forum of the largest national association of local authorities in Ukraine: the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC). The AUC has requested that the FCM lead a session to help Ukrainian cities understand how to address environmental sustainability, including energy conservation and renewable energy. This is an area in which NRCan and many Canadian cities have developed considerable expertise.
Canada and the U.S. are working to share their collective expertise in energy efficiency techniques and technologies — something that will be especially important to the people of Ukraine as they face energy security challenges.
Canada and the U.S. are showing the benefits of democracy, open markets and responsible energy development and consumption in building stronger economies and a cleaner, more secure energy future.
Chris McCluskey
Director of Communications
Office of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
613-996-2007
or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
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