July 20, Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, visited the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute".
First of all, this visit touched energy efficiency issues. After watching the photoexposure dedicated to the Kiev Polytechnicians, placed in the historic building No. 1 and honoring their memory, the President became acquainted with innovative projects and startups of university on energy supply, energy efficiency and energy conservation issues, with scientists and students. Stands with descriptions and models of some products were installed in corridors of the building.
After that, the President of Ukraine met with students, postgraduates, teachers and staff of the KPI. The Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, Gennady Zubko, Deputy of Ukraine Dmitry Andrievsky, representatives of energy service companies, energy audit companies and manufacturers of energy-efficient building materials and equipment took part in the meeting held in the Hall of the Academic Council of the University.
"Among the many reforms that have been carried out over the past three years, energy reform is one of the most important" said Petro Poroshenko at the beginning of his speech. He recalled that in 2014 Ukraine was one of the ten least energy-efficient countries in the world, which, in its turn, dishonored the national economy with increasing lag.
"Energy efficiency needs to be addressed. We need to reduce consumption. We need to introduce more efficient technologies, - the President of Ukraine emphasized. - And this is already in process, but, unfortunately, with a delay of twenty years ... ". So, part of his speech he devoted to stimulating the introduction of advanced technologies in the energy sector and the creation of effective tools for their support, including financial. One of such instruments should be the Energy Efficiency Fund, the basic principles of the formation and activities of which are set out in the law, which the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recently has adopted.
Petro Poroshenko highly appreciated the activities of Kyiv Polytechnicians in the field of energy supplies. "I very much rely on the scientific and creative potential of your university," the president addressed to the audience in the hall. - You have huge achievements in the energy direction, you are training specialists for energy supplies, energy efficiency, and heat engineering. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that when the state was asleep and started to do this only for the last three years during my presidency, you have been dealing with these problems for over twenty years. " The President of Ukraine also thanked the students, teachers and scientists of the KPI for development in the field of defense, which are rapidly being implemented and working to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country..
In conclusion of his speech, the President signed two extremely important regulatory acts for the energy industry - Laws of Ukraine "On the Energy Efficiency Fund" and "On Energy Efficiency of Buildings” just in front of television cameras in the hall of the Academic Council of the KPI.
“We, the collective of the KPI, consider our main responsibility to do everything possible for us to ensure the independence of our country," said Michael Zgurovsky, the Rector of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute KPI, at the end of the meeting. - And energy independence is one of its most important components. And these laws will help us all!".