Ukraine seeks to double hydropower share in electricity output

The Ukrainian government has set a target to double the share of hydroelectric power in the country's overall electricity output by 2026, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said on Friday.

"Now, hydropower accounts for 8.6 percent of our electricity generation and we have a potential to boost it to 15.5 percent. We should achieve this target within the next 10 years," Groysman was quoted as saying by the government's press service.

The premier said that the development of hydro-energy projects would help Ukraine reduce the costs of electricity, ease dependence on imported fuel and make energy generation more environmentally friendly.

According to the State Statistics Service, about 60 hydro-power stations functioning in Ukraine last year generated 6.9 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, down 25.2 percent from 2014.