The dissertation is devoted to the generalization and development of theoretical provisions, the development of methodological approaches, and the formulation of practical recommendations for restoring the activity of Ukraine's gas distribution sector.
To clarify the economic essence of the concept of "macroeconomic strategy for the restoration of the gas distribution sector", a thorough analysis of theoretical approaches to state regulation of infrastructure sectors, energy market development, and energy security was conducted. The generalization of scientific works of foreign and domestic researchers allowed the author to form the author's definition of the macroeconomic strategy for the restoration of the gas distribution sector as a complex system of goals, principles, instruments and mechanisms of state and market influence aimed at ensuring financial stability, investment attractiveness and structural modernization of the industry in conditions of instability of the consumer environment. The systemic role of the gas distribution sector in maintaining macroeconomic balance, social stability, and the state's energy security was determined.
The transformation of the consumer environment in the natural gas market under the influence of war, crisis, and post-crisis factors is studied. It is established that instability in demand, declines in household solvency, enterprise relocation, demographic changes, and the growth of social sensitivity to tariff policy constitute a new model of energy consumption. It is substantiated that the specifics of the functioning of the natural gas market are manifested through the performance of additional functions, including ensuring energy security, integration into the European energy space, supporting environmental transformation and the development of alternative gas resources. The need to adapt the strategic management of the gas distribution sector to the conditions of demand variability and increased macroeconomic risks is substantiated. An author's model for classifying natural gas markets by geographical, commodity, institutional, competitive, and consumer characteristics is proposed, which allows for the systematization of the features of their functioning under conditions of globalization and liberalization of energy markets. It was found that the modern natural gas market is characterized by a combination of demonopolization, integration, environmentalization and strengthening of the role of state regulation, which forms a new architecture of the energy sector.
A comprehensive analysis of the current state of gas distribution enterprises in Ukraine was conducted from the perspectives of financial stability, investment potential, infrastructure wear and tear, and economic activity efficiency. The structure of natural gas production, consumption, and import, as well as transformational changes in the energy resource supply system, were analyzed. It was found that natural gas occupies a leading position in the structure of fuel and energy resources, and the development of domestic production and the diversification of import flows contributed to an increase in the state's energy autonomy. Key structural imbalances were identified as insufficient investment resources, limited tariff mechanisms for cost compensation, network technological backwardness, and high dependence on regulatory decisions. Macroeconomic risks to the industry's recovery include inflationary pressures, currency fluctuations, budget constraints, and external geopolitical challenges. It is substantiated that Ukraine's gas sector is currently transitioning from a transit model to an integrated energy hub that provides storage, transportation, and balancing of energy resources for the countries of the European Union.
