Vitaly Kim. Archive photo «NikVesti”The Mykolayiv region is 58% independent of gas and now international partners are helping the region become even more energy independent in critical infrastructure.
Vitaliy Kim, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, said this during a telethon.
He noted that international partners, in particular Denmark, have already approved a package of assistance to the Mykolaiv region for the next year. In addition, Denmark plans to support cooperation with the Mykolaiv Oblast for many more years.
«Denmark approved the aid package for next year. They have also decided to provide stable advance assistance until 2028 or 2029. We can strategically plan what to do. Projects are now changing from humanitarian to more partnership projects, so that we can restore our economy and energy independence. Mykolaiv Oblast has its own specifics. We are 58% independent of gas and central heating remains only in the city of Mykolaiv, and the season will be a little easier for us,» noted Vitalii Kim.
Kim emphasized that cooperation with Denmark is changing from humanitarian to partnership, which allows to restore the economy and achieve energy independence.
«Most energy projects with partners aim to be energy independent in critical infrastructure, i.e. hospitals, kindergartens, administrative buildings. We work on both cogeneration and installation of solar panels. We are currently working on an investment map so that we can prepare ready-made plots for solar and wind generation,» he added.
Denmark’s cooperation with Mykolaiv
Back in March 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking before the Danish parliament, called on the country to take «chiefship» over Mykolaiv after the end of a full-scale war.
And already at the end of August 2022, the mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sienkevych and the Minister of International Development of Denmark Flemming Møller Mortensen signed a memorandum of cooperation. It envisages joint work on the formation of reconstruction projects and the involvement of investors from different countries in the restoration of Mykolaiv.
In January 2023, a meeting of representatives of Denmark and Ukraine took place in Mykolaiv regarding the planning of further restoration of the city. And in July, the Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark announced a package of aid for the Mykolaiv region for special equipment, medical equipment and repair of shelters.
Last September, after a meeting with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the opening of the office of the Danish Embassy in Ukraine in Mykolaiv.
And at the beginning of November, Denmark announced a new large-scale aid package to Ukraine for 40.2 million euros. At that time, it was reported that the main focus of the aid package was on Mykolaiv and the region.
In January 2024, the Kingdom of Denmark allocated another 21 million dollars to the reconstruction of the Mykolaiv region. In May — 17.2 million dollars for the reconstruction of destroyed educational institutions in the region, and in June –33.5 million euros for the restoration of infrastructure and improving access to water and electricity supply.
In general, about 60% of the aid that Denmark sends to Ukraine goes to Mykolaiv and the Mykolaiv region, said the ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Denmark has provided 118 million dollars in aid to the Mykolaiv region. He also stated his vision of the post-war reconstruction of Mykolaiv with friendly conditions for pedestrians and bicycle infrastructure.
While in Mykolaiv, the ambassador explained that after the end of the full-scale war, Denmark would help Mykolaiv to restore and modernize its shipbuilding capacity.
In particular, the country will rebuild the Mykola Arkas Lyceum while preserving its authentic appearance. As of September 2023, Ukrainian architects presented Ole Egberg Mikkelsen with reconstruction options.
The ambassador also supported the idea of creating a Danish quarter or park in Mykolaiv, but today this issue remains at the idea stage.
Denmark also expressed interest in the privatization of the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant.
Also recently, in Mykolaiv, they finished painting a mural in honor of friendship and partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark. It was opened on the anniversary of the founding of Mykolaiv.
In turn, Deputy Mayor of Mykolaiv Serhii Korenev said that Denmark plans to help the city for the next 10 years.
On September 17, in Mykolaiv, representatives of Denmark said that they were satisfied with the «positive developments» in the city and announced a new phase of the partnership, which provides for the economic and social recovery of the city.
Also, on September 17, 2024, it became known that Ukraine received the 4th and 5th packages of financial assistance from Denmark in the amount of 64 million euros, 44 of which will be received by the Mykolaiv region.
In October, it was reported that Denmark will provide more than ₴150 million for the restoration of buildings in the Korabelnyi district of Mykolaiv.
We will remind that in October representatives of «Engineers Without Borders» from Denmark visited Mykolaiv, who studied the situation with the implementation of projects of the Danish reconstruction program.