The Threat Reduction Agency at the U.S. Defense Department in the framework of a program on combatting possible nuclear threats and enhancing safety at nuclear facilities will assist Ukraine`s Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry to form the Interagency Operational Headquarters to counter threats to the country`s energy infrastructure, the ministry`s press service reported.
A corresponding agreement was reached during a meeting of representatives of the two bodies, reads the report.
The Ukrainian energy ministry stressed the importance of setting up such situation centers amid continued external aggression, in the interests of national security. The main task of the Interdepartmental Headquarters will be to prevent, combat and respond to possible threats to energy infrastructure.
It is expected that all preparatory work on the formation of the operational headquarters will be completed this year.
Earlier, Ukraine had introduced emergency measures on the electricity market in connection with the acute shortage of coal. The measures involve the increase in the share of nuclear energy in the country`s overall energy balance. At the moment, the share is almost 60%.
