Underestimated development opportunities: best RECP practices for Vinnytsia region enterprises

The information workshop "Improving resource efficiency at Vinnitsa region enterprises" took place in Vinnytsia, October 20th, 2016. It was initiated and organized by the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Center acting within the framework of UNIDO project in Ukraine. The workshop managed successfully the discussions of new opportunities for business development via implementing resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP) practices: energy audit prior to updating and retrofit measures.

The seminar started with an opening speech of Leonid Antoniuk, the Director General of Vinnitsa Regional Employers' Association, who emphasized the importance of energy-and-resources efficiency and conservation in companies’ everyday operation. There were presented the best practices of resource and energy efficiency both in Vinnitsa region and Ukraine in general.

In 2013-2015, over 50 companies were involved in Project implementation and 12 ones were from Vinnytsia region.

Taras Sakalosh, RECPC Executive Director, shared the information about overall savings due to technical options being implemented by Project participants and that is 5 million Euro.

Valerii Redchik, Regional RECPC coordinator in Vinnytsia, reported that company managers and administration staff keep on underestimating the potential of resource consumption reduction at their own enterprises. For example, they mistakenly assume that could reduce energy consumption by 5%, while qualified experts estimate as much as 25%.

Valerii Nikitiuk, Acting Director of Regional Development Agency, stressed upon the importance of implementing resource and energy saving projects for promising region development and demonstrated willingness to cooperate with the Centre in terms of searching projects for investments.

Workshop participants also discussed the issues of attracting funds for both projects update and resource-saving options implementation.

Liudmyla Gryhorieva, the Head of small-and-medium business development (SMB) department at JSB "Ukrgasbank", familiarized the participants with existing eco-financing programs, while Denys Stetsiuk, the Head for retail trade department at PJSC "Ukreximbank", reported on the funding tools for energy efficiency programs.

Logvynsvska Olga and Denys Bortnikov, the experts for "Spilnokosht" platform, informed the audience about the possibilities of attracting loans for energy efficiency projects via crowdfunding.

Victor Pyrniak, the Head of “Gosenergonadzor” Inspection in Vinnytsia, disclosed the issue of risks borne by the enterprise in case of incorrect operation and maintenance of thermal and electrical equipment. At the same time he offered some practical advice on prolonging the equipment service life.

In the course of the workshop the following speakers made their reports: Volodymyr Sevastianov (the director of "Helium" Research Institute); Oleg Gabriel (a businessman); Volodymyr Repei (the chairman of the Center for investment opportunities development at Vinnytsia regional council).

In general, the workshop was aimed both at raising awareness of companies on new development opportunities based on modern methods of resource and energy saving, as well as strengthening cooperation between public, industrial, financial and public sectors on sustainable development in Vinnytsia region.