Brussels, 28th of September, 2023. Task Force 6, a result of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership for Renewable Gases signed between the European Union and Ukraine, has been officially launched during the Business Forum on Renewable Gases in Vienna. This Task Force is set to play a vital role in unlocking Ukraine’s biomethane production potential.
The official launch of Task Force 6 took place at the Business Forum on Renewable Gases in Vienna on the 27th of September, focusing on EU-Ukraine collaboration in biomethane and green hydrogen. During a presentation on the large sustainable potential of biomethane to replace natural gas in Europe, Harmen Dekker, member of the Governing Board of the Biomethane Industrial Partnership, handed over a symbolic green valve to Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, on behalf of German Galushchenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine. This gesture symbolised the official launch of Task Force 6 and collaboration between Ukraine and the European Union in biomethane. The panel involved also Kadri Simson, European Commission for Energy, Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Anna Zamazeeva, Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine.
The foundation of Task Force 6 are to be traced back to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership for Renewable Gases, including biomethane, hydrogen, and other synthetic gases, between the European Union and Ukraine. A response to the urgent need to phase out the dependency on energy imports from Russia, and in line with the REPowerEU Plan of the European Commission, the Partnership aims to enhance EU-Ukraine energy cooperation by implementing EU legislation, promoting public and private sector collaboration and facilitating Ukraine’s participation in Horizon Europe projects. It intends to address administrative, technical, and regulatory obstacles related to production, transport, storage and usage of biomethane.
Task Force 6’s objectives are aligned with the goals outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding. The Task Force intends to incorporate best practices to unlock biomethane production, identify regulatory barriers, facilitate the establishment of a competitive and transparent cross-border market, promote pilot projects and foster the necessary economies of scale for widespread adoption of biomethane.
The success of Task Force 6 relies on collective efforts and expertise! Those eager to contribute can get involved by applying at the Get involved section of the BIP website. Those who have previously applied through the ‘Get involved’ section are encouraged to express their interest by reaching out to the BIP Secretariat at secretariat@bip-europe.eu.