OREANDA-NEWS. January 26, 2012. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov charged the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry and the Ministry of Economy to develop a strategic national program for energy saving and energy efficiency. The corresponding task was set by the Prime Minister  at the meeting of the Cabinet.

Mykola Azarov informed that after a meeting of the Council of National Security and Defence which took place last Friday, the President of Ukraine charged the Government to create and implement of long-term national program on energy saving and energy efficiency.

Thus, the Prime Minister stressed that "this strategic program must not be administering program, and in the first place the program of management processes. That is, based on incentives for energy efficient technologies and specifications which will cease the continuation of energy wasteful."

Along with this Mykola Azarov underlined that the implementation of energy saving program and energy efficiency - "is a task for each member of the Government and for each head of regional administration within their competences."

"We must pass this way. And pass along with our citizens, with their support and understanding. This is the historical moment when a society has to find solidarity and defend its right to a higher quality of life. Because reducing energy consumption and reliance on own resources as a result mean increasing incomes of people and reduction of prices and tariffs," Mykola Azarov underlined.

The PM also stressed that negotiations with Russian partners about the abolition of bonded agreement of 2009 and unfair gas prices are continuing, but the focus now is on our own strength, on domestic resources and the latest technology.

"Ukraine will consume expensive imported gas increasingly less.  And it should produce more of its own. To increase the proportion of domestic coal in the energy balance, to reduce energy consumption of production and housing and communal services to the European level," said Mykola Azarov, adding that parameters and stages of new energy policy are defined by the decision of the National Security Council and supported by the Head of the State.