Conference "Implementation UNIDO Methodology of Resource-efficient and Cleaner Production in Ukraine: Prospects for Odessa region"

RECP Centre with the support of the Department of Foreign Economic Affairs and European Integration of Odessa Regional State Administration held joint conference "Implementation UNIDO Methodology  of Resource-efficient and Cleaner Production in Ukraine: Prospects for Odessa region" on January 28, 2015 in Odessa.

The conference aimed at raising awareness of managers of industrial enterprises of Odessa region on the possibilities of implementation resource-efficient and cleaner production and establishing cooperation with RECP Centre.

Participants were welcomed by Deputy Director of Foreign Economic Affairs and European Integration of Odessa Regional State Administration Yaroslav Reznikov, Director of RECP Centre Igor Shylovych, director of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Sergey Hudobin, Project Coordinator of RECP Centre in Odessa region Galina Krusir.

Director of the RECP Centre Igor Shylovych presented main stages of the project realization in Ukraine and demonstrated how important implementation of resource-efficient and cleaner production methodology for the national economy is. For example, the share of energy costs in the price of the final product (black work) is 18-25% in the European Union and reaches 57% in Ukraine not allowing to use costs and effectively improve product quality. Moreover, according to International Financial Corporation modernization is completed only at 11.4% of Ukrainian companies. There were specific examples when implementation of RECP methodology improved productivity of enterprises allowing resources and energy saving, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. It was emphasized that the reduction of inefficient production costs is a necessary step that makes the company more stable and increases its competitiveness, approaching to European technical standards and reducing the costs for raw materials, water and energy.

Technical Director of RECP Centre Valery Pavshuk focused more on the features of RECP methodology. The objective of this methodology lies in discovering economically and technologically inappropriate energy, water and materials consumption during production process and developing technical solutions for their reduction. Moreover, introduction of methodology helps reduce emissions and waste into the environment without reducing production volume. B. Pavshuk expressed confidence that implementation of UNIDO methodology provides competitiveness of companies striving to strengthen their position in Ukraine and enter the European market.

Christoph Hugi, Head of Sustainable Resource Management Group (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwest Switzerland) shared his experience in introduction of resource-efficient and cleaner production in Switzerland. Christoph Hugi outlined challenges that RECP Centres usually face, which are low political will and lack of understanding of business owners of the features of integrated resource-efficient approach, the complexity of determining the most relevant techniques, a small number of trained specialists in energy efficiency.

Available technological solutions and national innovations of International Academy of innovative energy saving technologies presented its President Mykola Ternyuk. He presented practical examples of enterprises from agricultural, pharmaceutical, engineering, gas producing, processing and light industries (in particular, in Kharkiv region) showing that application of innovations has a short payback period (two weeks), increases production capacity and reduces costs associated with environmental protection.

Igor Kyrylchuk (National Project Coordinator of UNIDO / GEF “Improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy in agro-processing industry and other small and medium enterprises in Ukraine”) described financial and organizational aspects of capacity building of SMEs, particularly in agricultural and food processing industry by encouraging them to implement energy efficiency projects.

Head of Financial Department Group for management project of international credit lines under the National Bank of Ukraine V. Mayboroda presented the programmes of German-Ukrainian Fund and the National Bank of Ukraine aimed to support the financing of SMEs by providing investment in fixed and working capital for Ukrainian companies. V. Mayboroda explained the features of the National Bank of Ukraine work with companies and answered the questions concerning discount rate, interest rate etc.

Conference participants, including representatives of Odessa Regional State Administration, Odessa Chamber of Commerce, company’s experts, representatives from research institutions, scientists, local experts and local authorities, experts on ecology and economy discussed the importance of training national experts in resource-efficient and cleaner production and the possibility of further cooperation on the principles of "green" economy.

The discussion also included urgent issues of the UNIDO project, including the possibility of improving resource efficiency of enterprises in Odessa region and establishing effective cooperation with RECP Centre.

Director of RECP Centre Igor Shylovych emphasized that the implementation of recommendations on RECP usually does not require large investments; usually it depends on the ability of each particular company. Finally, he again invited the audience to cooperate and expressed gratefulness for all those present for their great interest and active participation.