Ukraine can provide 20% of EU’s needs for biomethane
The energy potential of biomass in Ukraine is more than 25 million tonnes of oil equivalent per year.
KYIV. Oct 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukraine can potentially provide up to 20% of the European Union's demand for biomethane production, said Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Vitaliy Holovnia.
“In the production of biomethane, Ukraine can compete with any country and offer the cheapest raw materials. Ukraine has the largest area of agricultural land in Europe and, accordingly, one of the best potentials in the world for the production of biomethane,” he said.
The official recalled that the EU intends to increase biomethane production to 35 billion cubic meters per year by 2030. Ukraine can potentially provide up to 20% of this need.
According to his information, the energy potential of biomass in Ukraine is more than 25 million tonnes of oil equivalent per year. In addition, biomethane and biogas plants also produce digestate, which can become the main organic fertilizer needed for soil restoration.
“Using the bioenergy potential of the agricultural and processing industries will contribute to the decentralization of the energy system and reliable energy supply to communities. It will also increase the income of agricultural producers through additional profits from the sale or use of residues and the production of high-quality organic fertilizer. In general, it will strengthen the energy security of the state,” the deputy minister emphasized.
As reported, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy predicts that Ukrainian business will be able to produce up to 1 billion cubic meters of biomethane in 2030, and in 2050 – 16 billion cubic meters.
In addition, in July of this year, a group of MPs registered bill No. 9456 in the Verkhovna Rada, which proposed to amend the Customs Code of Ukraine for customs control and registration of biomethane transported by pipeline across the customs border of Ukraine.
According to Dmytro Lyppa, General Director of GTSOU LLC, the company has received applications from more than ten companies that are considering the possibility of building 31 biomethane plants in Ukraine with a productivity of 225 million cubic meters per year.