The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading and in its entirety the government draft law No. 8433 "On amendments to chapter VI "Final and Transitional Provisions" of the budget code of Ukraine regarding the use of funds from accounts for the support of Ukraine", which provides for the creation of the State Fund for Decarbonization and Energy-Efficient Transformation.
The fund will be operational from January 1, 2024, reports the Government portal.
The corresponding decision was supported by 299 people's deputies.
It is noted that the fund will be filled from eco-taxes paid for emissions of carbon into the atmosphere from stationary sources of pollution.
"In 2021, the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan until 2030 was adopted. Implementation of the provisions of the Plan required the determination of stable financial sources for achieving goals and implementing measures. Today, this issue has become even more urgent in view of the need to implement reconstruction projects, which are impossible without taking into account the principles of energy efficiency. This is exactly what the funds of the newly created Fund will be directed to", said Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.
He explained that it is about implementing programs to improve energy efficiency:
- households;
- communal enterprises;
- public buildings;
- micro, small and medium businesses.
Kubrakov added that the special fund will also cover the implementation of energy services and the development of decentralized energy production and storage systems. Currently, the Ministry of Infrastructure is working on the development of the Procedure for its operation.
It is noted that the funds of the Fund will be directed to:
- measures and state target energy efficiency programs;
- reduction in the cost of obligations under credit and leasing contracts concluded for the implementation of energy-efficient measures, implementation of energy service;
- fulfillment of debt obligations for borrowings received by the state for the implementation of such programs;
- increasing the use of renewable energy sources and alternative fuels and reducing carbon emissions.
The press service of the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving explained that the Fund was created according to the European polluter pays principle. The principle, in accordance with the EU Regulation on energy management and climate action, provides for the targeting of environmental taxes on energy efficiency and decarbonization and is applied in 21 EU countries.
The representative of the government in the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk, emphasized in Telegram that draft law No. 8433 also:
- regulates the use of funds credited to accounts opened at the National Bank of Ukraine for the main managers of state budget funds, in the form of voluntary funds;
- stipulates the obligation of recipients of such funds to report monthly on the amount of voluntary contributions received and their expenses;
- proposes to allow, by decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the balance of funds, the source of which was formed by regulatory contributions, paid by business entities operating in the fields of energy and communal services and which were formed on 01.01.2023, to be directed to defense needs;
- it is proposed to allow local self-government bodies and military administrations in 2023 to direct the remainder of the subventions to measures of territorial defense, meeting the food needs of the civilian population, and evacuating the civilian population from the area where hostilities are taking place;
- for the period of martial law, it is proposed to fully credit the funds received from the State Specialized Fund for financing state-wide expenses for aviation activities to the special fund of the state budget and direct them to the State Aviation Service.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, signed the law "On the combined production of thermal and electric energy (cogeneration) and the use of waste energy potential" on the development of highly efficient cogeneration" (draft law No. 4527). The document will create conditions for highly efficient production of heat and electricity, implementing all the requirements of Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, Ukrainian enterprises will be able to receive $150,000 in loans for the implementation of energy management and energy efficiency measures.
