Ukraine's Big Bet: Upgrading, Expanding Gas Transmission Networks

摘要

The World Bank will spend $250 million to improve the efficiency of Ukraine's Gas Transmission System Operator (GTSO). One key goal of this ambitious project is "to strengthen its technical and institutional capacity." The project, officially known as "The Modernization of Gas Transmission System Project," will cost a total of $260.63 million. Of that total, $60.63 million is provided by Ukraine's national government, via the national Ministry of Finance. The GTSO is Mahistralni Gazoprovody Ukrainy, also known as the Main Gas Pipelines of Ukraine (MGU), and was formed as a result of significant changes in the country's gas industry. Historically, the Ukraine energy sector has been characterized by three traits: inefficiency, widespread corruption fostered by nonmarket pricing, and management structures that are not conducive to accountabil- ity and transparency. As a result, Ukraine has had a very energy-intensive economy.