OREANDA-NEWS. November 1, 2010. As part of the German-Ukrainian Energy Forum Donetsk has hosted a conference discussing possible ways to modernize Ukrainian industry by introducing energy-efficient technologies, with SCM and Donbass Arena being the project's partners.

The conference "Energy Efficient Modernization of Industry" organized by the federal government of Germany, the National Agency of Ukraine for Efficient Use of Energy Resources (NAER), the Eastern Committee of German Economy and Delegation of German Economy in Ukraine was held on 21 October at the Donbass Arena. The conference was supported by SCM and Donbass Arena while its media partners were Dyelo and Delovaya Stolitsa newspapers.

The conference participants discussed plans and priorities for energy-efficient reconstruction of Ukrainian industry and some of its sectors (mining and metals and chemicals sector), alternative energy issues, possible ways of financing modernization, the appropriate expertise of German companies and businesses as well as possible cooperation prospects.

Along with large industrial companies the conference was attended by many German and Ukrainian officials and diplomats, including the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Mr Hans-Jurgen Heimsoeth. SCM Group was represented by SCM's Director of International and Investor Relations Jock Mendoza-Wilson, Metinvest's Director for Development of Steel and Rolled Products Andrew Herman and DTEK's Head of the Environmental Department Irina Verbitskaya, who spoke at the conference.

"The necessity to improve energy-efficiency performance of Ukrainian industry is obvious to everyone: the less energy we use in production the more competitive Ukrainian products are on the global market. It's a good thing that we organized this conference with German colleagues. It's common knowledge that Germany is a powerful economy with extensive expertise and knowledge of energy efficiency. There's no doubt that green energy production and improvements in energy efficiency have huge potential in Ukraine, and Germany can contribute to this in Ukraine by sharing its experience and technologies," said Jock Mendoza-Wilson.

"We are very well aware of the challenges arising from inefficient use of energy. We are also well aware of the necessity to change the situation. We know from our experience that it is important to invest in energy efficiency. For this very reason, SCM Group ranks among Ukraine's leaders in terms of investments in energy saving technologies and consistently invests in technology and processes. Improved energy efficiency is a part of the core strategy of each company within SCM Group," added Mr Mendoza-Wilson.