OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2009. DTEK intends to promote the economic and geopolitical interests of the Ukrainian energy sector abroad, reports DTEK’s press service.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has approved amendments to the Law On Electric Power Industry to allow access to the throughput capacity of Ukraine’s interstate electrical networks on a tender basis.

The Chief Strategy Officer of DTEK, Vitaly Butenko, has commented as follows: ‘It will be the first significant step towards the liberalization of the market for electricity exports from Ukraine. The Law On Electric Power Industry as amended will make it possible to create preconditions for sound competition in Ukrainian electricity exports and put an end to corruption scandals and illegal monopolization of this business by some state-owned companies. Furthermore, the amendments to the law are made in such a way that proceeds from tenders are to go for the development of mains and interstate export capacities, which means additional incentives and sources for financing of projects aimed at expanding the export potential of Ukraine’s energy sector. Amid the crisis, it is vital for the sector’s development’.

According to Mr. Butenko, DTEK has always been and still is for liberalization of the electricity export market. Participation in tenders is the most suitable way for DTEK to implement the company’s export strategy, namely, to enter the markets of Central and Eastern Europe in the short-term.

‘Taking into account our potential in coal production and electricity generation, DTEK is capable of becoming one of the most competitive Ukrainian exporters, which will be able to protect and promote the economic and geopolitical interests of the Ukrainian energy sector abroad. We consider Hungary, Poland and Romania the most promising directions to export’, said V. Butenko.