22.10.2025
Ivan Grygoruk, Vice President of Energy Club, moderated both panel discussions at the “Resilience and Transformation: Balancing Ukraine’s Energy System in a New Reality” forum, held on September 25 in Kyiv. After each expert presentation, the discussion participants immediately moved to an open discussion, which allowed everyone interested to join the conversation. This made it possible to look at the problems from different angles and hear alternative opinions. In particular, Ivan Grygoruk, drawing on his many years of experience, presented a strategic view on the development of the energy industry.
During the second panel discussion, “Reconstruction and the Future: Technologies, Investment, and Regulation for Ukraine’s New Energy Sector,” Ivan Grygoruk emphasized that while the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) could be a visionary document, the primary guideline for the development of post-war energy must be the National Economic Development Plan of Ukraine. “We must see not only the energy perspective but also the economic one. It is the country’s economic development that guarantees the emergence of new large industrial consumers, thereby ensuring state budget revenues and stimulating GDP growth,” he stressed.
Below are Ivan Grygoruk’s theses in the context of the speaker presentations at the forum.
Due to the relocation of enterprises from the east to the west, the structure of electricity consumption has changed significantly, increasing the load on local grids. This phenomenon, in turn, stimulates the development of self-generation at industrial enterprises. This resolves the issue of production process stability, and surplus electricity is sold under bilateral contracts to other consumers. Some enterprises, not being professional investors, join balancing or aggregated groups to mitigate the risks associated with the energy market’s operation.
To attract international investors, Ukraine needs to ensure market transparency, clear rules of the game, and investor protection. The adoption of the law on market coupling and the subsequent integration of energy markets with the EU will open non-discriminatory access to cross-border capacity on the Ukrainian and European markets. This will ultimately lead to increased liquidity in the energy markets and lower energy prices.
“Without transparent rules, without resolving the existing debt problems, we will not be allowed to join the European market,” emphasized Ivan Grygoruk.
He also stressed the need for a gradual move away from PSOs (Public Service Obligations) in the gas and electricity sectors and the transfer of social obligations to the sphere of the Ministry of Social Policy. This would reduce the financial pressure on energy companies by at least 30%.
Over 39 billion UAH in debt has accumulated in the electricity balancing market, and in the gas sector, the figure is many times higher. “As long as there are debts, we will not be allowed into the common European market. We must make it transparent, understandable for creditors, and protected from unscrupulous manipulation,” stressed the Vice President of Energy Club.
Ivan Grygoruk shared the example of two industrial parks with which Energy Club is cooperating. Internal grids, cogeneration units, storage systems, dispatch centers, and more are already being designed for them.
“We have already completed the construction of an electrical substation, solar and cogeneration power plants, purchased an ESS, and supplied power to two factories. The cost per kilowatt-hour for the industrial consumer was just under 3 UAH. This is a real example of an effective solution,” noted the Vice President of Energy Club. In this case, banks are financing not only the already manufactured power equipment but also what is still being produced for a specific project, covering up to 70% of its cost.
Ivan Grygoruk concluded: the future of Ukrainian energy lies in flexibility, digitalization, and transparency. Without systemic grid modernization, a clear legislative framework, and the restoration of investor confidence, the country will not be able to fully integrate into the European energy space. “Energy Club works with all Central Executive Authorities, with the Verkhovna Rada, the NEURC, and others. We must build the energy future of Ukraine together,” he noted.
