Ukraine has begun targeted negotiations with Germany to expand exports of biomethane to the European Union. Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev said that the issue now rests not so much on technology as on regulation — Germany must allow imports from non-EU countries on the same terms as for EU producers.
What Ukraine wants
According to Sobolev, Ukraine has already officially applied to Germany. A draft law is being considered in the Bundestag so that biomethane from Energy Community member states (Ukraine is one) can be sold in Germany on the same conditions as EU-produced gas. Without this, Ukrainian biomethane projects don’t “close” financially.
“This will make biomethane production economically viable,” Sobolev explained.
Why Germany is interested
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Germany needs additional, predictable green energy sources — especially after reducing dependence on Russian gas.
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Ukraine can supply agro-based biomethane relatively cheaply thanks to a large agricultural sector and available feedstock.
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For Berlin, this is also energy diversification within a climate agenda.
What’s holding it back
Sobolev pointed to two key barriers:
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Financing for equipment — biomethane plants and gas grid connections are capital-intensive.
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Regulatory access — Germany still has restrictions on biomethane imports from outside the EU.
Kyiv’s idea is simple: if Germany legally opens its market to Ukrainian biomethane, private investments will come into Ukrainian projects.
Parallel tracks: bioethanol and biogas
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For bioethanol, Ukraine is now looking for new export markets.
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For biogas, Ukraine is offering Germany a cooperation model: grants or equipment for on-farm generation in Ukraine.
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A reference figure from the minister: a 100 MW plant requires about €220 million in investments — this shows the scale of projects Ukraine is ready to launch if the market opens.
Why this matters
If Germany equalizes the rules for Ukrainian biomethane, Ukraine will get:
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a long-term export market in the EU;
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stimulus for farmers and processors;
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and new green energy capacity inside the country.
For Germany, it’s a way to get real renewable gas from a partner already integrated into the European energy space.
