US Focused On Ukraine's Energy Sector Reform, Pleased With Progress - State Dept.

The United States is concentrated on reforming Ukraine's energy sector and is pleased with the progress made by Kiev in this regard, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon told reporters on Monday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th December, 2018) The United States is concentrated on reforming Ukraine's energy sector and is pleased with the progress made by Kiev in this regard, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon told reporters on Monday.

"More broadly, we are really focused on reform of Ukraine's energy sector and I am very pleased that with a lot of spade work and in close cooperation with the Ukrainian government and companies that they are moving forward with the unbundling of Naftogaz, the state company," Fannon said.

He explained that a framework process has been put together aimed at unbundling Naftogaz in January.

Fannon added that Washington remains in close consultations with Ukrainian on how to achieve more progress in reforming the country's energy sector.

"We are very pleased with some meaningful steps," he said. "More certainly needs to be done, and European partners have shared their views with us as well. And we are in close discussion with the Ukrainians on that."

In July, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the United States played a crucial role in the process of preparing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Naftogaz and Main Gas �Pipelines aimed at unbundling Ukraine's gas transmission.

The Trump administration, she added, places a high priority on energy security and these actions represent a positive step for Ukraine and European energy security more broadly.

According to the agreed roadmap, the process of unbundling should be completed in early 2020 after the current gas transit contract with Gazprom ends.