UK to give Ukraine first 5-mln-pound tranche to repair energy infrastructure

MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) - UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Monday plans to sign an agreement with Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko and Energy Community Secretariat Deputy Director Dirk Buschle to transfer the first 5 million pounds of the UK's 10-million-pound commitment to the Energy Community's Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

"Ukraine will have further UK support to keep the lights on across the country and repair energy infrastructure," Ukrainian media quoted Cleverly as saying in a statement published on the UK government's website.

The UK is the biggest donor to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. This latest funding will provide specialized energy equipment to keep critical national infrastructure up and running - a priority request from the Ukrainian government, according to the statement.

Recently the UK has also provided Ukraine with 7 million pounds to procure over 850 generators so that vital facilities in the country have power and a further 5 million pounds for safety and security equipment for the civil nuclear sector. In addition, the UK has put up a $50 million guarantee for financing for Ukraine's state-owned energy provider, Ukrenergo, through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.