The war in Ukraine has posed significant challenges for the country’s energy sector, ranging from destroyed infrastructure, consumption deterioration due to governmental-imposed restrictions, to direct physical risk. MET Group’s Kyiv-based subsidiary had to deal with this too. “However, our team has stayed strong and motivated even in such an environment,” says Serdar Karliyev, who oversees five colleagues working in Ukraine.
He believes that their greatest achievement is maintaining operations as an energy supplier, even in times of war. MET Ukraine’s activities include offering long-term contracts to customers, close cooperation with domestic producers, and utilizing prompt opportunities in the electricity market.
Serdar Karliyev’s team supports Swiss-based MET Gas and Energy Marketing AG (MET GEM), which became one of the main natural gas suppliers in Ukraine last year. “We have built the image of a reputable and reliable energy supplier in the Ukrainian market throughout the last decade,” the CEO adds.
MET Ukraine has brought European know-how and innovation to the Ukrainian natural gas market. This includes solutions such as products indexed to European hub prices, various hedging options, and tailored product structuring. Recently, the company has also become an active player in the local electricity market, initiating cross-border import and export activities of Ukrainian electricity.
The MET Group subsidiary was already an active natural gas supplier before the conflict in Ukraine, supplying major end customers. As a result of the ongoing military conflict, gas consumption in Ukraine has declined significantly.
“We really hope that the conflict will end and the energy market situation will stabilize soon. I am confident that MET Ukraine will be able to continue its success story of expanding into the Ukrainian energy market,” Serdar Karliyev concludes.
