Under Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency, Ukraine is taking its first real steps toward energy independence and energy efficiency.
Apart from awarding shale gas extraction rights to
international giants Shell and Chevron, Ukraine’s government launched its first
Master of Business Administration program on energy efficiency for civil
servants.
The MBA is specifically designed for 20 high- and mid-level officials from the
State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine. The two-year
program costs around 200,000 euros, and is financed by the European Union
through a sub-contractor.
“Ukraine disposes of so many resources (yet has) so much room for improvement …
especially with regard to efficiency of how energy is used and how it is
produced,” said Jan Tombinski, the EU ambassador to Ukraine, during the
program’s official opening ceremony on Feb. 19.
Clasess started in December at the MIM-Kyiv Business School. To enroll, civil
servants passed rigorous entrance exams. The curriculum includes general
business course like macro- and micro-economics, specialized courses such as
energy management and auditing, and is designed to not interfere with official
duties.
Up to a quarter of all classroom hours will be read by guest experts and
professors from EU countries. The program also includes internship
opportunities abroad.
“This is the first time that such a specialized (educational) program is being
launched in Ukraine,” said Serhiy Dubovyk, the energy efficiency agency’s
deputy head. “This will be a big help for our agency in educating our staff. It
will facilitate development of our agency itself and independence of our state
in general.”
Iryna Tykhomyrova, president of MIM-Kyiv Business School, said the main purpose
of the program is to develop a common language between state officials and
businessmen looking to invest in the nation’s energy sector.
But students say it’s still too early to evaluate the course.
“To study at this program is difficult, funny and useful,” said MBA student
Oleksandr Hrytsyk.
The nation’s most recent achievements in the energy sector also include
conducting three tenders for production sharing agreements on shale gas fields
in 2012.
American energy corporation Chevron won the tender for developing Oleske field
in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts. Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell won the bid
for Yuzivske field the Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts. And an international
consortium headed by American giant ExxonMobil will develop the Skyfske field
in the deep shelf of the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian government has already signed a 50-year production-sharing
agreement for the Yuzivske field with Shell on Jan. 24. It also plans to sign
the same agreements with Chevron and ExxonMobil within a few months. Experts
say shale gas will help decrease Ukraine’s dependence on expensive Russian
natural gas.
Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Faryna can be reached
at [email protected].
