The share of renewable energy in the energy balance of Ukraine could reach 18% by 2030, and 10% in the structure of power generation, according to a forecast in the draft Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030, the head of the department for strategic policy, investment and nuclear energy at the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry, Mykyta Konstantinov, has said.

"We are completing work on the draft Energy Strategy until 2030. It is aimed at meeting growing demand, increasing energy independence and efficiency, and reducing the negative impact on the environment," he said at the conference "Inside Ukraine" organized by the Economist with the support of the Foundation for Effective Governance in Vienna.

As reported, some experts and international partners of Ukraine have criticized Kyiv for its intention to stipulate a share of renewable energy at a level of a mere 2% in the Energy Strategy.

"The project that we presented contains the changed figures. But the final figure will only be known when the project is approved by the government," Konstantinov told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, the capacity of renewable energy could increase to 15,000 MW by 2030.

He said that the share of nuclear power in generation, according to the project, would remain at 50%. This is to be achieved through the completion of two power units at Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant and the construction of three new units.

Konstantinov said that the draft Energy Strategy foresees the annual growth of Ukraine's GDP by 5%, which will entail an increase in electricity consumption by 50%, coal - by 20-26%, and oil - by 12%.

At the same time, it is planned to reduce gas consumption by 14%, to 50 billion cubic meters, in particular via reducing the GDP energy intensity by 60%, the head of the department said.

According to him, Ukraine intends to 90% provide itself with gas, increasing production to 44 billion cubic meters by 2030, over 50% of which will account for unconventional gas.

Konstantinov added that the cost of implementing the Energy Strategy is estimated at more than $200 billion and it would be carried out in parallel with the reform of the energy sector, which takes into account the European policy and the requirements of the Energy Community.

Currently experts estimate the power of renewable energy in Ukraine at about 700 MW and its share of total generation at up to 1%.