On May 13, 2026, the Fuel and Energy Business Association (FEBA) participated in the “Business Energy Resilience” conference. The event focused on the development of distributed generation, energy efficiency, and overcoming investment barriers to business energy autonomy.
The conference featured Andriy Gerus, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy, Housing, and Utilities, and Serhiy Nahorniak, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency. Their participation is vital, as the specialized parliamentary committee is currently shaping the nation’s approach to distributed generation and mechanisms for supporting critical infrastructure.
The event was part of the project “Business Energy Resilience: Stimulating Distributed Generation,” implemented by the All-Ukrainian Agency for Investment and Sustainable Development in partnership with the Ukrainian Business Council and supported by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).
A Strategy for Survival
During the event, an analytical paper on overcoming investment barriers was presented. Prepared by experts Yuliya Usenko, Svyatoslav Pavlyuk, and Yevheniya Zahumennova-Krupovych, the document outlines how distributed generation and energy storage are no longer just technical upgrades—they are essential for business continuity under the constant threat of infrastructure attacks.
For Ukrainian enterprises, energy resilience requires:
- Clear regulatory rules for autonomous power.
- Simplified procedures for implementing technical solutions.
- State policy that reflects the reality of military risks.
The Fuel Sector: More Than Just Generators
Tetiana Dumenkova, Deputy Head of FEBA, emphasized that for the fuel market, resilience has a broader dimension:
“Business has essentially been living on generators for years. However, for the fuel sector, resilience is about physical security, the ability to recover quickly after attacks, access to financing, and fair conditions for enterprises performing a critical function.”
FEBA highlighted that gas stations (filling stations) serve as energy and mobility hubs for communities, especially in frontline regions. They power logistics, local businesses, and emergency services.
The “Double Blow” of Taxation
A key issue raised by the Association is the fiscal burden on damaged infrastructure. Currently, businesses whose facilities are destroyed or non-operational due to attacks are still obligated to pay advance corporate income tax payments of up to 60,000 UAH per month for every site. FEBA argues that state policy must provide relief for those who have lost their income-generating capacity to enemy fire.
Military Risk Insurance vs. Mass Cashback
A significant portion of the discussion, led by Oleh Hetman (Economic Expert Platform), focused on military risk insurance.
Key takeaways from the debate:
- The Barrier: Even if a business is ready to invest in distributed generation, the lack of insurance against destruction makes the risk prohibitive.
- The Proposal: Reallocate state resources from less effective “mass cashback programs” toward critical priorities: war risk insurance, restoration of damaged facilities, and energy efficiency.
- Parliamentary Support: Representatives from the Energy Committee agreed that insurance is the primary tool needed to unlock energy projects in high-risk regions.
FEBA supports the development of distributed generation and storage as a necessity for Ukrainian business. However, the Association maintains that resilience must be viewed holistically. It is not just about producing electricity; it is about the capacity of critical infrastructure to sustain the country’s basic resources despite the war.
For the fuel market, this is not a theoretical debate—it is a matter of community safety and economic mobility.
The analytical paper on barriers to investment in distributed generation and energy efficiency is available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XRRke_Jht4u3ncf7WCs4tbxdsF_rLooz/view
