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Olga Bielkova takes the lead on the international relations of the Gas TSO of Ukraine

June 24, 2020, Kyiv – Olga Bielkova joined the team of Gas TSO of Ukraine LLC and became the head of international relations and work with government agencies.

Ms. Bielkova’s main task in this position is to promote and protect the interests of GTSOU in the international arena, primarily on the implementation of Nord Stream-2 projects and other bypass pipelines. In addition, her priority is to complete the process of full integration of Ukraine into the European gas market.

“I am incredibly glad that Olga Bielkova accepted our offer. GTSOU operator is a new company that separated from the Naftogaz Group only in January this year. Previously, we did not have our own separate international function, as Naftogaz’s head office was responsible for such issues. Therefore, now we are actively forming a team that will successfully represent the GTS Operator in the international arena.

 I believe that Olga will significantly strengthen the management team of Gas TSO of Ukraine. In fact, this is one of the best candidates for such position, as she is well acquainted with the problems of the gas industry, directly participated in the implementation of European energy legislation in Ukraine, and has extensive business relations and a good reputation in European political circles and international organizations,”Sergiy Makogon, General Director of GTSOU, commented on the appointment.

“My decision to resign as a People’s Deputy and move to a state strategic company is an attempt to protect the great interests of Ukraine. Yes, on the one hand, it is an ambitious challenge, but on the other hand, and most importantly for me, it is an opportunity to implement the changes and reforms in the energy sector that I and my colleagues in parliament have achieved over the past 5 years. The Ukrainian GTS should be utilized and ought to be an integral part of the European gas transmission network. Ukraine has to launch a full-fledged gas market and integrate it into the European one. I will report all my experience and maximum efforts to achieve this,” – Olga Bielkova said.

It should be noted that GTS Ukraine Operator LLC transits natural gas from Russia to the European Union, transports it by main gas pipelines to consumers in all regions of Ukraine, and provides market participants with access to Ukrainian gas storage facilities. The company is one of the largest employers and taxpayers in the country – brings the state about 2% of GDP and employs more than 11,000 highly qualified professionals.

 

Summary

Olga Valentinovna Bielkova has more than 20 years of experience in promoting and successfully implementing large-scale international projects – both in management positions in public and commercial organizations, and at the state level as a People’s Deputy of the last three convocations.

Ms. Bielkova has been the driver of many reforms in the energy sector of Ukraine. In particular, under her authorship, key laws for the industry were adopted – on the natural gas market and the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission of Ukraine. In the international arena, she took an active part in counteracting the implementation of the Nord Stream-2 project and defending Ukraine’s position as a transit country.

Olga Bielkova was born in 1975. She has a degree in economics at Cherkasy State Technical University (1997) and a degree in law at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (2001). She graduated Harvard Kennedy School of Government (2011) with a master’s degree in public administration.

Since the early 2000s, Ms. Bielkova has led projects to integrate Ukraine into the global community and has been responsible for providing international grants, she has worked closely with well-known international organizations.

In 2011, Ms. Bielkova became a managing partner of EastLabs, where the main focus was on finding new teams to fund their projects and creating a program to develop such teams in the accelerator.

In the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (2012-2020) she was a member and actively worked in the committees: on finance and banking (VII convocation), on fuel and energy complex, nuclear policy and nuclear safety (VIII convocation), on finance, tax and customs policy (IX convocation).

On June 18, 2020, Olga Bielkova resigned as a People’s Deputy on her own initiative and completed her work in the Ukrainian Parliament of the IX convocation ahead of schedule.