Ukraine to join the IEA as Association country

The Governing Board of the International Energy Agency has agreed that Ukraine will join the IEA Family as an Association country, reflecting the IEA’s full support for Ukraine against Russia’s aggression, highlighting Ukraine’s critical role for energy security and supporting its reconstruction efforts. Recognising the exceptional and unprecedented circumstances the country is facing, the Governing Board also agreed to develop an action plan with Ukraine to address its energy security, energy transition and reconstruction efforts.

Ukraine’s Minister of Energy, German Galushchenko, who joined representatives of IEA member countries for the Paris Governing Board meeting via video conference from Kyiv, requested Ukraine’s entry into the IEA and described his country’s security and energy challenges.

The IEA’s Member Countries unanimously supported Ukraine joining the IEA family, which will strengthen the current ties with the IEA, bolster energy security and help Ukraine on its path to reconstruction.

Ukraine’s entry is set to be marked at an event in Warsaw hosted by Poland’s Minister of Climate and Environment Anna Moskwa, who was in Paris yesterday for the IEA Governing Board meeting.

“Given these exceptional circumstances, I am extremely pleased that the Governing Board has come together so quickly to show our support and solidarity with Ukraine, which is a key country for regional and global energy security and a leader in the energy transition,” said Ambassador Hiroshi Oe, the Chair of the IEA’s Governing Board.

“Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia began on February 24, the IEA has been working to support Ukraine as well as all IEA family members in the face of changing energy markets,” said Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director. “When the situation allows, Ukraine will need to rebuild its energy sector, ensuring diverse, ample and affordable energy supplies, while also further building on the progress it has already made in its energy transition. The IEA is ready to provide policy support and capacity building in a range of vital energy areas, including Ukraine’s gas strategy, demand-side management, renewables and energy efficiency.”

The IEA has a long history of cooperation with Ukraine – a country that is central to both European and global energy security. In the last 15 years, the IEA has conducted four in-depth policy reviews and organised policy events and energy data capacity building in Kyiv and Odesa. The Agency has worked closely with Ukraine through the European Commission’s EU4Energy programme. The IEA also recently completed a roadmap looking at how Ukraine can harness energy demand restraint, a topic that had been a priority for the government.

The IEA’s Association framework allows the IEA to work closely and deepen cooperation with its partner countries, sharing analysis, data and best practices. Ukraine is becoming the IEA’s 11th Association country. The framework was established in 2015 and other Association countries are Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand. IEA family members now represent some 75% of global energy demand.