Luxembourg increases energy fund contribution to 12 million euros

"The Government of Luxembourg has officially increased its contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to EUR 12 million, with an additional EUR 10 million funds already received and fully available in the Fund’s special account", the Ukrainian energy ministry wrote on  Wednesday.

In December, the Luxembourg foreign ministry announced plans to contribute to the fund, but at the time the sum in question was to be around 8 million euros over a period of two years. "This support aims to supply schools, hospitals, water and heating infrastructure with energy equipment, to cover the most urgent needs and render Ukraine more resilient in the energy sector in the long term," the Ministry said at the time.

On 1 May this year, foreign minister Xavier Bettel and defence minister Yuriko Backes announced the support would be increased to 21 million on a visit to Ukraine. The package included 10 millions euros for energy, a further 10 million for military support, and 1 million for the Olena Zelenska Foundation, a charity run by the Ukrainian president's wife, which supports war-affected children with their mental health.

The Ukrainian energy ministry Herman Halushchenko thanked the Luxembourgish people and the government on Wednesday:

“We sincerely thank the Government and the people of Luxembourg for their generous assistance. Ukraine deeply appreciates this unwavering support. Every contribution is a step towards strengthening the energy security of not only our country, but the whole of Europe. The funds will be directed towards vital emergency repairs of our critical infrastructure, which continues to suffer daily damage as a result of Russia’s strikes”

Since the Ukrainian energy fund was launched in April 2022, it has collected over 1.6 billion euros from more than 33 international contributors, the ministry said. Around 617 million euros are still required to address the most urgent repair works.