Victor Yushchenko has met with Jeroen van der Veer, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group.

Ukraine’s Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko, First Deputy Secretariat Chief of Staff Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Naftogaz Chairman Volodymyr Sheludchenko and Ukrgazvydobuvannya Head Yevhen Bakulin attended the meeting.

The President said he welcomed the expansion of Shell into Ukraine and described their presence in our country as a “seminal event”, especially for the local energy sector.

“Energy issues constitute the country’s strategic policy, so we will oversee your activities and your presence,” he said.

Mr. Yushchenko said, last June, Ukrgazvydobuvannya had signed an agreement with Shell to carry out joint studies in the Dnieper-Donets Basin, which is thought to contain potentially significant remaining resources of natural gas, and produce gas at great depths. He said this “significant” project would help improve Ukraine’s energy security, insisting that it be implemented without delays. 

Jeroen van der Veer detailed several successful steps taken by Shell since the signing of the June contract. Now, he said, the company successfully operates six gas stations in Ukraine. It has recently conducted the third meeting on biological fuel, gasification and coalmining. He also said a group of Shell professionals were now visiting Kyiv to develop long-term cooperation with Ukrainian oil and gas specialists.

Mr. Yushchenko and Mr. van der Veer discussed ways to nurture ties between Ukraine and the Shell Group, one of the world’s largest oil companies, especially plans to carry out joint projects.

The President stated: “This project must work like a clock.”

He suggested that they create several bilateral groups to manage different aspects of cooperation. Mr. Yushchenko added he was ready to be personally in charge of its implementation in Ukraine.


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