Latest / Reformed Thinking / Rebuilding Ukraine’s Energy and Utilities after War

Transcript

Rebuilding Ukraine’s Energy and Utilities after War · Reformed Thinking

0:00
Welcome to the deep dive. This is where we sift through
0:02
information, maybe articles you've read, research papers, or
0:06
even your own notes, and we pull out the most compelling ideas,
0:09
the surprising details. The goal is always to help you
0:12
get truly well informed quickly and clearly.
0:16
Today we're doing something a bit special, diving into a
0:18
really fascinating case study in national reconstruction.
0:21
Yeah, it's quite something. It's a deep dive looking at how
0:24
a nation facing just immense challenges is thinking about
0:28
rebuilding its vital energy infrastructure, but through a
0:33
very specific lens, a reformed theological framework.
0:36
That's the key part. So we're calling this a reformed
0:39
thinking deep dive. The material we're looking at
0:42
offers a compelling demonstration of how strongly
0:45
held convictions can shape very practical, real world solutions.
0:49
It really does. You're with us as we unpack this
0:51
vision for Ukraine's energy future.
0:54
And it's an eliminating look, I think, at how foundational
0:56
beliefs can genuinely guide engineering choices, policy
1:01
discussions, and ethical thinking right in the middle of
1:03
enormous challenges. What makes this source material
1:06
particularly interesting is how it shows rebuilding not just as
1:09
a technical job, but as something described as, well, a
1:13
moral vocation. A moral vocation.
1:16
So for you, our listener, while we are focusing on Ukraine, this
1:19
isn't just about 1 nation's story.
1:21
It's about watching how a particular worldview can inform
1:24
almost every decision in a huge rebuilding effort.
1:28
And does make you wonder, what might this suggest for how we
1:31
approach other big societal efforts or even smaller
1:35
projects, you know, in our own communities?
1:37
Good. Question.
1:38
OK, let's start to unpack this blueprint for renewal.
1:42
To begin, let's try and get a handle on the sheer scale of the
1:45
challenge in Ukraine. The source documents they aint a
1:48
really stark picture of destruction.
1:50
They do, but then they quickly ivot saying this isn't just a
1:53
problem to fix, but it's more like an urgent call to respond.
1:56
The war has left Ukraine's energy and utility sector and
1:59
what the sources call a fractured ruin.
2:02
A fractured ruin. That's a powerful description,
2:05
and the scope of the physical devastation is truly sobering.
2:08
According to the World Bank's February 2025 assessment, the
2:12
RDNA 4, the direct physical loss just to the energy sector is
2:18
around 20 billion. Wow, 20 billion.
2:21
That's huge. It is, and that points to
2:24
massive financial loss. But it represents so much more
2:27
than just money. Think about the physical reality
2:29
behind that number. We're talking about 18 combined
2:32
heat and power plants. Huge facilities described as
2:36
reduced to twisted steel or just obliterated by missile and drone
2:40
strikes gone. More than 40% of high voltage
2:44
substations, You know the critical nodes that step down
2:47
electricity for distribution. They've been gouged open, some
2:50
apparently vaporized entirely. It's hard to picture and the
2:52
material also mentions over 800 municipal boiler houses.
2:56
These are the systems providing heat for a whole neighborhoods
2:58
right? That's right, and they're
2:59
described as incapacitated. Incapacitated.
3:02
And thousands of kilometers of distribution cable, the very
3:04
veins and arteries of the grid shredded.
3:07
The overall picture painted is a patchwork of smoking craters,
3:11
jury rigged feeder lines and feverish improvisation.
3:14
Just trying to keep things going and.
3:16
Behind these numbers, these statistics, the sources really
3:20
bring out the tangible human cost.
3:23
This is an abstract damage happening somewhere else.
3:25
No, not at all. We hear about households
3:28
literally boiling snow for tea just to survive, or surgeons
3:32
illuminating operating tables with battery torches during
3:35
critical procedures. You know what I imagine?
3:37
Farmers watching their milk spoil because there's no
3:39
refrigeration. Pediatric wards glowing by the
3:42
blue light of battery torches. Water utilities forced to ration
3:46
pressure just to keep their pumps from tripping.
3:48
And it's widespread, isn't it? Not just isolated incidents.
3:51
No, the sources talk about rolling outages stretching 8
3:54
hours a day in places like Kharkiv and Chernihiv, families
3:57
forced to burn scrap wood and old Soviet era stoves just to
4:01
stay warm. It's just a vivid illustration
4:04
of how the collapse of basic infrastructure unravels daily
4:07
life for millions of people. It really is.
4:10
OK, so this is where it gets particularly interesting.
4:12
I think the sources make it very clear that this reconstruction
4:17
effort, it's not just a technical challenge of wires and
4:19
generators. Instead, it's described, as you
4:22
said, as a moral vocation. So what does that actually mean
4:26
to approach such a huge rebuilding effort from this
4:28
specific perspective? Well, if we look at the bigger
4:32
picture presented, this idea suggests the rebuilding effort.
4:35
Conceptually, it begins and ends with God.
4:39
It views the shattered utility is not in isolation, but as part
4:42
of creation and a creation that from this Reformed view, God
4:47
sustains and intends to renew. OK.
4:49
So this framework, it aims to ensure that the engineering
4:52
plans stay aligned with that broader purpose.
4:54
So the rebuilding itself becomes what's called an enacted
4:57
confession of faith. An enacted confession of faith.
4:59
Yeah, this foundational understanding, it shifts the
5:03
entire perspective on reconstruction.
5:05
It moves it beyond just engineering to something
5:07
carrying real ethical and spiritual weight.
5:10
So the sources then outline 3 sort of intertwined convictions
5:14
that frame this whole task from that reform standpoint.
5:17
First, there's the cultural mandate.
5:19
This concept calls humanity to cultivate and safeguard
5:22
creation, exercising wise dominion even in the rubble of
5:26
war. It's rooted in Genesis 1.28 in
5:29
Psalm 8. Right, the idea of stewardship.
5:32
It's seen as a call to bring forth creation's latent
5:34
potential. So it's not just about fixing
5:37
what's broken, it seems. But seeing the devastation is a
5:40
chance to build something even better, something infused with
5:44
intentional purpose. That's a significant shift from
5:47
just recovery. It's about promoting genuine
5:49
flourishing. OK.
5:50
And the second conviction? The second one is love of
5:52
neighbor. This principle sets out an
5:54
obligation for everyone, including civil rulers, to
5:57
pursue practical acts of mercy that preserve life and remote
6:00
general well-being. Okay, based on Matthew 22,
6:03
Romans 13. That's right, and this extends
6:05
to ensuring basic utilities for everybody.
6:08
What this means in practice, according to the sources, is
6:11
that every kilowatt restored, every water pipe fixed, every
6:15
heating system brought back online, it's viewed as an act of
6:19
concrete care for those around us.
6:21
Especially the most vulnerable. Especially the most vulnerable,
6:24
like the elderly mentioned, shivering and Michael live.
6:26
It's a very practical expression of compassion.
6:29
And the third conviction? The third is divine Providence.
6:32
This idea holds that all human labor, even in a crisis like
6:35
this, unfolds under God's sovereign care.
6:38
The same God who, as Hebrews 1.3 puts it, upholds all things by
6:43
the word of His ability, also provides the resources needed
6:46
for a struggling nation sustenance.
6:48
So that includes the engineers, the policymakers, the donors.
6:52
Precisely the skilled engineers, the prudent policymakers, the
6:56
generous donors, they're all seen as part of God's provision.
6:59
And this perspective helps, the sources argue, in curbing both
7:03
despair because God is still in control, and presumption,
7:06
reminding us that true success comes through his blessing.
7:09
Right, it's not all down to human effort alone.
7:11
Not at all. The Westminster Confession V .1
7:14
describes God's governance as most wise and most holy,
7:19
underlining that human expertise works with divine intent, not
7:23
trying to replace it. OK.
7:24
So those are the three main convictions.
7:26
Building on those, the sources then detail 5 interlocking
7:30
biblical categories. These really serve as the
7:32
compass for every decision in this reconstruction effort.
7:35
A compass for decisions. OK, what's the first one?
7:37
1st is divine sovereignty and Providence, which we just
7:40
touched on. It affirms that God works all
7:42
things according to the counsel of His will, as Ephesians 1.11
7:46
says, even amidst the chaos of war.
7:49
So from this viewpoint, a destroyed transformer and 1
7:52
still standing are both somehow. Both are understood to be within
7:56
the Father's hand. That's the language used.
7:59
This theological lens helps counter despair.
8:01
God remains in control and presumption, remembering
8:04
ultimate success comes from His blessing.
8:05
Right. And you mentioned the
8:06
Westminster Confession again here.
8:07
Yes, V .1, describing God's governance as most wise and most
8:12
holy, underscoring that human expertise operates within, not
8:16
instead of, divine decree. OK, category #2. 2nd is the
8:20
cultural mandate and stewardship.
8:22
This comes from Genesis 1.28 and Psalm 8, again referring to
8:27
humanities original task to fill the earth and subdue it, but
8:32
exercising dominion as responsible stewardship, not
8:35
exploitation. So resources like electricity,
8:38
water, they're seen as gifts. Gifts.
8:41
Yes, gifts to be cultivated for the common good.
8:44
Rebuilding, then, becomes a sort of reenactment of Edenic
8:47
gardening. Edenic Gardening.
8:49
Yeah, carefully pruning the wreckage, reseeding the grid
8:52
with renewables, training apprentices so future
8:55
generations inherit a better and more sustainable system than the
8:59
one that was damaged. So it's proactive, purposeful
9:02
improvement, not just repair. That's the idea.
9:04
OK, third category. 3rd is love of neighbor and mercy.
9:07
This principle you know from Matthew 22 in the Good Samaritan
9:10
parable, connects love of God with the duty to care for
9:13
others, right? Reliable utilities from this
9:16
viewpoint perform what the sources call a Samaritan
9:18
function at societal scale. Interesting phrase.
9:21
They enable essential services, ventilators, safe sewage
9:24
removal, resuming livelihoods, the sources state.
9:27
Every kilowatt restored is neighbor love quantified.
9:31
Neighbor Love. Quantified.
9:32
Yeah, highlighting the need to support the well-being of
9:35
vulnerable people like those elderly folks in Michael Live in
9:38
Winter. OK, makes sense. 4th category.
9:41
4th is civil magistrate and sphere sovereignty.
9:45
While Christ's lordship is seen as over everything, this
9:48
framework identifies distinct spheres of authority.
9:51
OK. Romans 13 portrays the civil
9:54
ruler as God's servant for your good, responsible for things
9:58
like setting safety codes, allocating tariffs for
10:01
utilities, defending critical infrastructure like substations.
10:05
So the state has its role, the church has its role.
10:07
Exactly, the sources clarify. A church might put solar panels
10:10
on its roof, but it doesn't take over the state's legal
10:13
responsibilities. This encourages cooperation
10:15
without confusing the roles. Clear boundaries.
10:18
So energy ministers draft contracts.
10:20
Church ministers preach against corruption, but not the other
10:23
way around. That's the example given, yes,
10:25
Each sphere operates within its proper domain, promoting
10:28
harmony. OK.
10:30
And the 5th and final category. Finally #5 is the ethics of
10:34
reconstruction guided by the moral law?
10:37
Even in a war economy where things can get murky, Scripture
10:41
provides moral constants like transparent scales from Proverbs
10:46
11.1, truthful testimony from Exodus 20.16, and the principle
10:51
of Sabbath rest from Exodus 20.811.
10:54
And how do these translate into practice in this context?
10:56
They translate into very concrete measures, for instance
10:59
anti corruption portals, publishing tender results in
11:02
real time, blockchain meters to deter electricity theft,
11:06
contractual clauses limiting Sunday construction to
11:08
emergencies only. And what about the workers
11:11
themselves? The sources note that workers
11:13
rebuilding high voltage lines should be treated with respect,
11:16
not driven relentlessly like Pharaohs brickmakers ensuring
11:19
they get proper rest in fair conditions.
11:22
Rebuilding with these ethical considerations, it's argued, not
11:24
only meets donor requirements but also bears witness to the
11:27
holiness of God. OK, so those five categories
11:29
provide the ethical and theological compass for the
11:32
whole effort. That's the framework presented,
11:34
yes. So with those foundational ideas
11:36
in place, how does this grand vision actually start to take
11:40
shape on the ground? The first phase is described
11:43
pretty vividly is trauma surgery for the grid.
11:46
Yeah, trauma surgery is a good way to put it.
11:48
So what does that look like in practice, especially in that
11:51
crucial first year after the well, the immediate devastation?
11:54
This immediate stabilization phase, the first zero to 12
11:57
months, it really is like a national triage award for the
12:00
energy sector. The main strategic goal is to
12:03
transform the damaged, often fragmented grid into a minimum
12:07
viable winterproof backbone. Minimum viable?
12:10
Yeah, capable of continuing. Continuously supplying
12:13
electricity, clean water and heat to three top priority
12:16
groups, hospitals, water treatment plants and densely
12:20
populated urban areas. OK, the essentials first.
12:22
Absolutely. And at the same time, this phase
12:25
involves laying the moral and administrative groundwork needed
12:28
for a reconstruction free from corruption.
12:31
It's about urgently restoring those basic structures people
12:34
need for survival and dignity. And with resources being so
12:37
scarce, how do they decide where to focus first?
12:40
Well, the scarce resources are directed initially to what are
12:43
called triage nodes. Triage node.
12:45
These are critical points whose failure would cascade into wider
12:48
humanitarian disasters. The sources specifically
12:52
mentioned 30 transmission substations as these nodes. 30
12:55
specific ones. Why those?
12:57
Because their collapse could bring down entire all blasts.
13:01
You know, administrative regions.
13:03
So these critical substations get immediate fortification.
13:06
Things like improvised blast walls and mobile foam fire
13:11
suppression units built at breakneck pace.
13:14
Using designs tested elsewhere. Yes, designs informed by
13:17
strategies field tested in places like Israel and South
13:20
Korea, countries with experience protecting critical
13:23
infrastructure. It's an urgent, targeted effort
13:26
to stop a total system collapse. OK.
13:28
So physical hardening is key. What about other technical
13:31
strategies during this urgent phase?
13:32
Cybersecurity is a huge concern right alongside the physical
13:36
tamper resistant scatter firmware.
13:38
The control systems for these industrial processes are
13:40
deployed quickly to seal off vulnerable data pathways.
13:43
Because a cybertech could undo the physical work.
13:45
Precisely, the sources say a single logic bomb can nullify
13:49
metric tons of poured concrete. Protecting the digital is just
13:53
as critical as the physical. And boosting power generation
13:56
quickly. Yes, 20 mobile 35 MW
13:59
containerized gas turbines basically power plants on wheels
14:03
provided under US Lend Lease are brought in for rapid deployment
14:07
OK plus lithium iron phosphate battery packs are distributed.
14:11
These units go strategically to life and death endpoints,
14:14
surgical theaters, neonatal wards, water treatment inlets,
14:18
cell tower clusters, ensuring localized power even if the main
14:22
grid flickers. And to get all this vital
14:24
equipment in quickly, the sources mentioned some kind of
14:27
legislative action. Yes, that was crucial.
14:30
On day 60, the Verkov Narada, Ukraine's parliament, passed a
14:34
60 day Green Corridor decree. Green corridor.
14:37
This exempted critical infrastructure imports from
14:40
duties and streamlined customs inspections down to just 48
14:43
hours. It's stated purpose was to avert
14:46
logistical bottlenecks that could hold up essential gear.
14:49
Makes sense. And at the same time, local
14:51
utilities were doing something. Yes, municipal utilities started
14:54
creating localized micro grid islands around hospitals and
14:58
water plants. These used rooftop solar arrays,
15:01
typically 20 kilowatts and bi directional inverters.
15:05
So they could operate independently.
15:07
Exactly. This setup let's these critical
15:10
facilities island, disconnect from the National Grid in
15:13
milliseconds, and operate autonomously during nationwide
15:17
blackouts. They shed local loads gracefully
15:20
instead of just failing catastrophically.
15:22
It's about building distributed resilience right from the start.
15:25
And what about fuel for these generators and backup systems?
15:29
By day 90, an emergency fuel corridor was up and running.
15:32
It's described as a railpipe truck hybrid system stretching
15:36
from Poland to Kiev and then on to Kharkiv.
15:39
It ensures a rolling stockpile of diesel and Jet A for the
15:42
mobile generators, providing 84 hours of diesel autonomy for
15:45
those micro grid islands. So even with wider grid
15:48
problems, critical points stay powered.
15:50
That's the goal, guaranteeing supply to those life and death
15:53
endpoints to prevent humanitarian crises.
15:55
It sounds like alongside all this technical work, there was a
15:58
parallel effort to build what the sources call moral
16:02
architecture. What did that look?
16:04
Like yes, the moral architecture.
16:06
This is where the Church's diagonal structures, their mercy
16:09
ministry, really came to the fore.
16:11
Congregations in every all blast were challenged to open 500
16:15
warming and charging centers. 500 Wow, what did they offer?
16:19
They provided thermal shelter, soup kitchens, USB charging
16:24
points, very practical needs and and also chaplaincy for the line
16:28
workers coming back from long hard shifts on frozen pylons.
16:31
So practical help and spiritual support.
16:34
Yes, and this initiative is portrayed as echoing historical
16:38
examples like the granaries of Joseph or the Deacon managed
16:41
food banks in Acts 6. It highlights a long tradition
16:44
of practical mercy. And there's also focus on worker
16:46
well-being, which seems quite remarkable in such a crisis
16:49
situation. It is quite striking to prevent
16:51
the Sabbath, the day of rest, from being completely consumed
16:55
by the crisis tempo. Utility schedules were
16:57
reorganized. Emergency call outs were rotated
17:00
to make sure every employee got at least one uninterrupted 24
17:04
hour rest period each week, and this was explicitly done in
17:08
obedience to the 4th commandment from Exodus 20.
17:11
So a conscious decision based on a theological principle.
17:14
Yes, recognizing both the dignity of Labor and the basic
17:18
human need for rest, even in an emergency.
17:21
How is financial integrity maintained during such a rapid,
17:24
large scale effort? It seems like a huge challenge.
17:26
A huge challenge, financial transparency was rigorously
17:29
enforced through a public Ledger procurement dashboard.
17:33
A public Ledger. Yes, this platform published
17:36
every contract and change order above 1,000,000.
17:38
That's the Ukrainian Rivnia in real time.
17:41
This invited scrutiny from civil society auditors and local
17:44
church elders, aiming to ensure honest weights and measures.
17:48
Drawing from Proverbs 11. And deterring theft.
17:50
To deter diesel theft, which was apparently a chronic wartime
17:53
issue, they introduced blockchain tagged fuel coupons,
17:57
and chaplains also reminded people that the 9th Commandment
18:00
forbids all full stealing, reinforcing ethical conduct from
18:03
a spiritual angle. OK.
18:05
So, multiple layers of accountability.
18:07
How was progress actually tracked and evaluated in this
18:10
initial intense phase? Evaluation was key.
18:13
They conducted covenantal stewardship audits at the three,
18:17
six and 12 month marks. Covenantal stewardship audits,
18:20
What did those involve? These were joint efforts.
18:22
The energy ministry, Reformed seminaries and engineering
18:25
faculties working together described interestingly as brief
18:29
liturgies of data and doxology. Liturgies of data and doxology.
18:34
Tables detailing MW hours restored, outage minutes
18:37
reduced, and lives preserved were apparently read aloud
18:40
alongside psalms of Thanksgiving, reinforcing the
18:44
idea that from this viewpoint, God's glory guides not just
18:47
sermons but spreadsheets too. And what was the specific goal
18:50
by the end of that first year? The goal was quite specific.
18:53
At least 95% of Ukrainians should enjoy a reliable 20 hour
18:58
per day electricity supply, every hospital should draw from
19:01
dual redundant feeders plus on site storage, and no war widow
19:05
should spend a single night of January without heated shelter.
19:10
That paints a very clear picture of the measurable, practical
19:13
outcomes they were aiming for. OK.
19:15
So once the immediate crisis, the trauma surgery is addressed,
19:19
the plan moves into a more deliberate phase.
19:21
This is like into physical therapy for the grid.
19:24
Right. Physical therapy.
19:25
It implies something slower, more intentional.
19:28
And not just restoration, but building something better than
19:31
what was there before. This is the midterm Resilient
19:34
Reconstruction phase, covering years 1:00 to 5:00.
19:37
What's the guiding conviction here?
19:39
The guiding conviction for this phase is that resilience isn't a
19:42
luxury, it's an ethical responsibility that stems from
19:45
that cultural mandate we discussed earlier.
19:47
The call to cultivate and guard the garden.
19:50
Precisely so that future generations may flourish.
19:53
It's about building something durable and future ready, not
19:55
just patching up the past. And what's the first major
19:58
component of this physical therapy?
20:01
The first major strand is decentralized generation.
20:04
The goal by the end of year 2 is for every oblast capital, every
20:08
regional capital, to host at least one municipally owned
20:12
microgrid. Municipally owned, yes.
20:14
And these microgrids are designed to be anchored in local
20:17
resources, rooftop solar, on site battery storage, and where
20:21
it makes sense, small scale wind turbines.
20:24
And how do these operate day-to-day?
20:26
They operate in what's called plug and play mode.
20:28
When the main National Grid is up and running, they export any
20:31
surplus electricity they generate to the wholesale
20:34
market. But if a missile strike or
20:36
something else cuts the national connection, they can island in
20:39
milliseconds. They instantly disconnect and
20:42
keep providing local power to critical services, shedding non
20:45
essential loads gracefully instead of just collapsing.
20:48
That sounds like a really significant shift in how the
20:50
energy system is structured. What about the regulations
20:53
needed to support this? Well, legislation passed back in
20:56
January 2025 apparently already reduced the time it takes to
21:00
connect these distributed generation projects.
21:02
The next step planned is net billing reform.
21:05
Net billing? What does that do?
21:07
This rewards households and churches for exporting clean
21:09
electricity back to the grid when demand is high, and at the
21:12
same time, it helps discourage phantom feed in scams, ensuring
21:16
fair payment. This policy, the sources say,
21:19
upholds that biblical principle of honest weights and measures.
21:23
OK. And alongside solar.
21:25
In parallel with the solar initiatives, the government is
21:27
also finalizing plans to rehabilitate the Denipro hydro
21:31
cascade, the big hydroelectric dams.
21:34
Rehabilitate them how? By installing modern fish
21:36
friendly Kaplan turbines and digital governors, this lets
21:39
Ukraine's oldest renewable energy asset effectively balance
21:42
out the variable output from all the new solar power.
21:45
And a very ambitious part of this midterm plan seems to be a
21:49
nuclear renaissance. What's involved there?
21:51
Yes, running alongside the renewables is this nuclear
21:54
renaissance. In July 2025, Intergo Adam, the
21:57
state nuclear operator, signed a framework agreement with Holtec
22:01
to manufacture SMR 160 modules domestically.
22:04
SMR small modular reactors. That's right, smaller factory
22:08
built reactors designed for flexibility and quicker
22:11
deployment between years two and five.
22:13
The plan is to retrofit the Michael Live Shipyard into a
22:16
pressure vessel forge and start construction on the 1st reactor
22:19
building at the Saharan Brownfield site.
22:21
That sounds like a very fast pace.
22:23
It's described as aggressive, yes, but the sources frame it as
22:27
a prudential path of energy independence to avoid debtor
22:30
bondage. Referencing Proverbs 22.7 again.
22:33
It's also seen as aligning with creation care by significantly
22:36
cutting life cycle carbon emissions.
22:38
And how is oversight managed for something like new nuclear?
22:42
To maintain oversight, ensure safety and responsible
22:45
stewardship, there's a multi stakeholder board.
22:47
It includes civil engineers, reformed ethicists,
22:50
international watchdogs. They conduct quarterly open
22:53
hearings. This setup is presented as
22:55
echoing the gate elders of Deuteronomy who judged
22:57
impartially in public. It's clear that all this new
22:59
hardware, solar, hydro, nuclear, won't work effectively if the
23:04
electricity can't move freely and securely.
23:06
So what's happening on the digitalization front?
23:09
Good point. A third key strand is grid
23:11
digitalization years one through 3 focus on rolling out tamper
23:15
resistant scatter firmware across all the main and the 330
23:19
kilovolt substations. OK, this is paired with
23:22
blockchain anchored smart metering for 10 million retail
23:26
customers. Blockchain metering, What's the
23:27
benefit? This technology provides
23:29
immutable provenance for every kWh.
23:32
It means it's origin and path are recorded and verifiable.
23:35
This deters theft rings and enables time of use pricing,
23:38
where electricity costs vary based on demand.
23:41
What about data privacy concerns?
23:43
Data privacy is protected by default end to end encryption
23:46
and a legal opt out right. This is explicitly linked to the
23:49
9th Commandment forbidding any distortion or unnecessary
23:52
disclosure of truth. And using technology to predict
23:55
problems. Yes, utilities are adopting
23:57
predictive maintenance analytics, using drones and AI
24:00
to flag things like conductor hotspots before they cause
24:03
blackouts, improving RID reliability proactively.
24:06
Beyond the technology and the infrastructure, what about the
24:09
people, the human element in this huge rebuilding effort?
24:14
Crucial all the while, the human element, the people who will
24:18
actually operate and maintain this new grid are being
24:21
developed too. 3 regional energy vocational academies are set up
24:25
in Leviv, Denipro and Odessa, OK.
24:28
They're partnering with Reformed seminaries to offer a dual
24:31
curriculum. Dual curriculum.
24:33
Yes, practical technical skills, high voltage line work, inverter
24:37
programming, SMR maintenance alongside theology of vocation,
24:41
Sabbath economics, anti corruption ethics.
24:44
So training technicians and stewards at the same time.
24:46
That's the idea. Veterans and displaced engineers
24:49
graduate not just as technicians but as stewards who work
24:52
heartily As for the Lord. Women, often marginalized in
24:55
these trades, are actively recruited through scholarship
24:57
quotas. How does that fit with
24:59
complementarian views mentioned earlier?
25:01
The sources say this approach respects complementarian views
25:04
on distinct roles in the church while affirming woman's equal
25:06
value and contribution in civil society and the marketplace.
25:10
In addressing burnout. To address potential burnout,
25:12
utilities implement A321 ROTA, three weeks working 2 mixed
25:17
remote field, one paid sabbatical per quarter, designed
25:21
to Incarnate the rhythm of Labor and rest believed to be embedded
25:24
in creation. How is such a large scale
25:27
initiative being financed, especially during this recovery
25:29
period? Financing underpins everything.
25:32
The blended capital model, which started in year 1, expands
25:34
significantly. Now.
25:36
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
25:38
issues 1 billion in resilience bonds.
25:41
The Ukrainian diaspora raises another $250 million annually
25:45
through those church coordinated lights for life war bonds we
25:48
mentioned with Psalm 46 printed on them.
25:51
Private investors also join through legally capped public
25:54
private partnerships structured to prevent any single company re
25:58
monopolizing the grid, ensuring diverse ownership and.
26:01
Transparency remains key. Absolutely.
26:04
A centralized public procurement Ledger audited by external firms
26:07
and reviewed periodically by presbyteries, those church
26:10
governing bodies published as cash flows in real time.
26:13
This transparency is seen as essential for credibility.
26:16
And what are the expected measurable results by the end of
26:19
this five year phase? By the close of Year 5, the
26:22
sources project 3 clear targets, first one GW of rooftop and
26:28
utility scale solar capacity operational.
26:30
One GW solar. 2nd, 60% of pre war coal capacity retired
26:35
without any capacity shortfall, a clear shift to cleaner energy.
26:40
And 3rd, nationwide outage minutes per customer reduced by
26:44
80% compared to 2023 levels. A significantly more reliable
26:48
grid. And these aren't just technical
26:50
numbers in this view. No, the sources suggest each
26:53
achievement is seen as a doxological footnote, meaning
26:56
these lights eliminate classrooms where scripture is
26:58
studied. Ventilators hum in hospitals.
27:00
St. lamps deter violence. Every practical success is
27:04
viewed as a way to give glory to God, turning data into an act of
27:07
worship. OK, looking beyond the immediate
27:09
stabilization of the midterm resilience building, the vision
27:13
for Ukraine's energy future extends further.
27:15
It goes into what the source and call Shalom infused innovation.
27:18
Shalom infused innovation. Yes, aiming to make the nation a
27:22
model of energy stewardship for others.
27:24
What is this long term landscape look like starting from Year 5
27:28
and going forward? This long term transformation,
27:30
starting around Year 5 adopts what's termed an eschatological
27:34
posture. Eschatological Posture.
27:36
Meaning it means recognizing that while the final fulfillment
27:39
of all things is future, we're still called now to guide
27:42
creation toward its creational Palos, it's created purpose.
27:47
So Ukraine's energy future is seen not as just catching up
27:50
with modernity, but as a vocation of Shalom infused
27:53
innovation, striving for peace, wholeness, completeness in all
27:57
aspects of energy. And what's the key technical
27:59
breakthrough that enables this long term vision?
28:01
The technical key stone here is the commissioning of that first
28:04
SMR 160 module at Kiharan, scheduled for 20/29, which is
28:09
Year 5 on the road map. The small modular reactor.
28:11
Right, that 160 megawatts of 0 carbon base load power finally
28:16
displaces the last coal peaker plant in the Donbas region.
28:19
And crucially, it supplies the anchor load for a new trilateral
28:23
high voltage interconnector linking Kiev, Warsaw and Berlin.
28:27
So Ukraine becomes an energy exporter, a hub.
28:29
That's the plan. Combined with five gigawatts of
28:32
distributed solar, the rehabilitated Dinipro hydro dams
28:36
and 1.5 gigawatts of onshore wind, Ukraine is projected to
28:40
shift from energy importer to a net exporter of clean electrons.
28:45
And what's the economic impact of becoming an exporter?
28:47
The sources project earnings of 2 billion annually in
28:51
cross-border capacitor revenues from these exports, and these
28:54
revenues are constitutionally earmarked for Regional Hospital
28:57
endowments and orphan care grants, a very tangible
29:01
application of the diagonal principle that surplus should
29:04
flow to the weakest members of the Covenant community, echoing
29:07
Acts 11. So directly linking economic
29:09
success to practical mercy. That's the structure.
29:12
Now, behind all this physical infrastructure, there's mention
29:15
of an ecosystem of covenantal governance.
29:18
How does that function long term?
29:19
Right, the covenantal governance.
29:21
Every five years, the Energy Ministry convenes a public
29:24
stewardship convocation. A stewardship convocation.
29:27
At this gathering, engineers, presbyters, citizen auditors
29:30
review detailed performance indicators, things like MW
29:33
hours, exported outage minutes per capita, tons of Co, euro
29:38
abated. These are read aloud like
29:40
liturgical antiphons. This is followed by communal
29:44
prayer, Psalm singing, and then open microphone repentance for
29:47
any corruption uncovered during the previous audit cycle.
29:50
Open mic repentance. Yeah, this ritualized
29:53
accountability is presented as embodying the Westminster
29:56
Confessions view that the moral law restrains sin and promotes
30:00
the common good. Economically, the Long term plan
30:03
also includes something called Jubilee shaped diversification.
30:07
What does that mean? Economically, it draws on
30:09
principles related to the biblical Jubilee year, aiming
30:11
for diversification. A sovereign Green Future Fund,
30:15
capitalized by 10% of those energy export revenues, is
30:18
overseen by a board including theologians and macroeconomists.
30:21
OK. What is the fund?
30:23
It underwrites venture accelerators in cities like
30:25
Leviev and Kharkiv. Startups get patient equity,
30:28
long term supportive investment for projects like Second Life,
30:31
battery recycling, agravoltaics. Agravoltaics.
30:34
It's solar panels over crops. Yeah, solar panels designed to
30:37
shade crops like sunflowers, allowing both energy production
30:40
and agriculture. Also, anaerobic digesters
30:44
converting dairy waste into pipeline grade biomethane and.
30:47
What about the intellectual property created by these
30:50
innovations? There are intellectual property
30:51
covenants in place. They require patents from fund
30:54
grants to enter the public domain after 15 years.
30:57
This reflects the biblical idea that land, and by extension
31:01
knowledge, ultimately belongs to the Lord, citing Leviticus 25.
31:05
And preventing resource exploitation.
31:07
The sources also mentioned that while international investors
31:10
are welcome, equity caps and mandatory technology transfer
31:13
clauses prevent a reprise of the 1990s resource plunder condemned
31:17
in Isaiah 5, aiming to ensure Ukraine retains control and
31:20
benefits. Technologically, the
31:22
digitalization that started earlier is supposed to mature
31:25
into real time covenantal visibility.
31:28
How does that work? Yeah, real time covenantal
31:31
visibility. Every substation, for example,
31:32
posts its efficiency score, outage history, carbon intensity
31:36
data on an open API, a public programming interface.
31:39
So anyone can access the data. Churches.
31:42
Civic coders? Yes, they can develop dashboards
31:44
for parish hall monitors, making complex energy data accessible
31:48
locally. What's more, when a feeder trips
31:50
or a transformer overheats, SMS alerts go not just to the
31:53
utility dispatch but also to the deacons running neighborhood
31:56
warming shelters. Enabling faster response for
31:59
aid. Precisely enabling rapid mercy
32:02
mobilization that dignifies recipients rather than
32:05
relegating them to anonymous queues.
32:07
A clear fusion of electrons and ethics, as the source puts it.
32:11
And how does this long term transition affect social aspects
32:15
like vocational development? Socially, the energy transition
32:18
becomes a vehicle for vocational discipleship.
32:20
By year 7, those energy vocational academies spin off
32:24
Guild style fellowships. GAIL Ailes.
32:26
Yeah, where master electricians catechize apprentices in both
32:30
safe wiring practices and the 10 commandments showing work
32:33
excellence and personal conduct aren't separate.
32:35
And the role of women. Views on distinct roles are
32:38
acknowledged. As mentioned, without limiting
32:40
female talent. Women make up 40% of certified
32:44
solar installers and lead the National Power Systems
32:47
Cybersecurity lab work. Family rhythms stabilize around
32:51
a six hour shift model, leaving margin for evening worship and
32:54
catechesis, echoing an older ideal where labor supports, not
32:58
overwhelms rest. Finally, what about the
33:00
ecological side of this long term vision?
33:03
Ecologically, the program aims for a unique form of creation
33:06
care. Wetlands drained for old Soviet
33:08
coal mines are restored as carbon sinks and bird
33:11
sanctuaries. Decommissioned slag heaps from
33:14
industry are repurposed for terraced solar gardens.
33:17
Solar gardens on slag heaps. Yes, and these gardens are
33:20
described as being crowned with wooden chapels whose stained
33:22
glass panels depict Revelation 22's river of life flowing
33:26
through photovoltaic vineyards. A very artistic linking of
33:29
technology and spiritual imagery.
33:32
And by year 10, what are the broad anticipated outcomes of
33:35
this entire vision? By year 10, the outcomes are
33:38
quite specific. Outage minutes projected to fall
33:40
below Germany's a highly reliable grid.
33:43
Household energy poverty drops by 2/3, a major social impact,
33:48
and Ukraine is expected to export not only electrons but a
33:51
reformed paradigm of energy stewardship.
33:54
A paradigm of stewardship. One that weighs robust
33:56
engineering, transparent institutions, and the hopeful
33:59
realism that marks a people who await a city whose designer and
34:02
builder is God. Citing Hebrews 11 point 10s.
34:07
So the long term transformation aims to be more than just
34:09
completing a project. It envisions a nation where
34:12
practical success is understood as expressing a larger purpose.
34:16
Which brings us to a really crucial aspect.
34:18
How is such a massive project spanning years and billions of
34:21
EUR actually financed? The sources layout a
34:24
comprehensive strategy not just for funding but for doing it
34:28
ethically, ensuring accountability and tackling
34:30
corruption head on. Right, the money side.
34:32
The sources highlight that from this theological viewpoint,
34:35
money isn't just a neutral tool, it's framed as a covenantal test
34:39
of the heart. For Ukraine, the stakes are
34:41
really high because the war exposed those decades old
34:46
patronage networks that used to siphon off utility tariffs into
34:49
private hands. So tackling corruption is
34:51
fundamental to the grid's health.
34:53
Absolutely. The long term health of the grid
34:56
depends on this dual approach, a blended capital strategy
35:00
bringing in different types of funding combined with a
35:03
covenantal governance architecture designed
35:05
specifically to resist graft. Every Frivnia is meant to
35:09
operate with integrity. OK, so let's breakdown this
35:12
blended capital stack, this pooling of different funding
35:15
sources. Well, the initial funding
35:16
includes a 1 billion power resilience bond issued by the
35:20
European Bank for reconstruction and development, the EBRD.
35:24
This helps manage refinancing risk for those early microgrid
35:28
pilot projects. OK, it's one layer.
35:29
A second layer is green sovereign bonds.
35:32
These are 10 year notes where the coupon payments are actually
35:35
linked to verified reductions in emissions.
35:37
Ah. So performance linked.
35:39
Yes, designed to attract investment from, say, Nordic
35:43
pension funds interested in ESG factors, environmental, social
35:47
governance, channeling that capital into things like rooftop
35:50
solar deployment. And there's a distinct program
35:52
involving the Ukrainian diaspora community.
35:55
Yes, the Diaspora War Bond Program.
35:57
It's administered by the National Bank of Ukraine but
36:00
marketed through Ukrainian Baptist and Reformed
36:02
congregations abroad. The goal is to raise a steady
36:06
$250 million a year at concessional rates, lower
36:09
interest than commercial loans. And each certificate has Psalm
36:12
46 printed on it. Yes, in both English and
36:15
Ukrainian, offering that spiritual reassurance.
36:18
God is our refuge and strength. And the Green Future Fund.
36:21
Finally, starting in year 610% of the net export revenues from
36:26
that key Warsaw Berlin interconnector flows into the
36:29
Sovereign Green Future Fund. Its charter mandates the capital
36:32
gains support, hospital endowments and orphan care
36:34
grants, literally converting electrons into mercy ministry
36:38
using an analogy to Acts 11.29. Now getting all this capitals
36:42
one thing, but the sources also raise a concern quoting Proverbs
36:46
22.7 that the borrower is slave to the lender.
36:51
How do they plan to avoid what's called neo colonial bondage?
36:55
That's a major concern addressed in the plan.
36:58
To mitigate the risk of too much debt, the Verkov Narada enacts a
37:02
debt safeguard statue. What does that statue do?
37:05
It caps public sector debt service specifically for these
37:07
energy projects at 40% of the annual sector cash flow.
37:11
If that limit is breached, it triggers a mandatory 5 year
37:14
moratorium on taking on new external borrowing.
37:17
It's a built in brake. A brake on debt and there's also
37:20
that unique Jubilee clause in the bond agreements.
37:22
Yes, the Jubilee clause. It's a crucial provision
37:25
included in every bond indenture of the legal contract.
37:28
If Ukraine's overall debt to GDP ratio goes above 90%, the
37:32
lenders automatically extend the loan maturities by five years at
37:35
the existing interest rate. So a kind of automatic debt
37:38
relief mechanism? Essentially, yes.
37:40
It's described as the land reversion logic of Leviticus 25,
37:44
where land went back to original owners in the Jubilee year.
37:48
It provides debt relief without triggering credit defaults,
37:51
aiming for long term financial stability and preventing a debt
37:54
spiral. The governance model for these
37:56
projects follows that Reformed principle of sphere sovereignty,
37:59
meaning responsibilities should devolve to the smallest
38:03
competent unit. How does that work in practice
38:05
here? Well, for example, municipal
38:07
cooperatives are required to own at least 51% of the micro grid
38:11
assets. This ensures local control and
38:13
benefit. Regional pension funds can
38:15
invest up to 30%, keeping more financial interests local.
38:19
The national government keeps only a golden share, giving it
38:23
veto rights just on national security grounds, limiting
38:26
central interference. And the role of clergy on the
38:28
boards. Crucially, each Co-op board
38:30
reserves 2 seats for clergy nominated elders.
38:34
The purpose isn't church control, but to provide a moral
38:37
Plumb line. Referencing the Heidelberg
38:39
Catechism on Honest Commerce. They're there to help ensure
38:42
ethical conduct. And employee ownership.
38:44
Yes, mandatory employee stock ownership plans are stipulated
38:48
for utility staff, so lineman and control room techs have a
38:52
literal stake in the grid's performance and success.
38:55
How is transparency and procurement maintained?
38:58
And what about audits? To maintain transparency, every
39:01
contract over 1,000,000 appears in real time on that public
39:05
procurement Ledger. The blockchain back portal,
39:09
viewable on smartphones, very accessible change orders.
39:13
Modifications to contracts are capped at 10%.
39:16
Anything over that goes to a live streamed public hearing,
39:19
another layer of accountability. And the audits?
39:21
Quarterly covenantal stewardship audits are jointly chaired by
39:25
the Energy Regulator, a major international accounting firm,
39:28
and the General Assembly of the Reformed Church.
39:31
They scrutinize cash flows, carbon metrics, even Sabbath
39:33
compliance of worker rotors. And they start with Psalm
39:36
singing. Sessions begin with Psalm
39:38
singing and end with that open mic confession of any
39:40
misallocation uncovered, reinforcing that refreshing
39:43
comes from repentance. Plus, whistleblower hotline
39:46
staffed by deaconesses guarantee anonymity with protections
39:49
against false accusations based on Deuteronomy 19.
39:52
What about regulatory harmonization and the rule of
39:54
law within this framework? Regulatory harmonization is a
39:57
big focus. Ukraine adopts clean energy grid
40:00
codes. Lined with EU standards and
40:02
these embed explicit anti bribery articles right into the
40:06
regulations teeth. Yes.
40:08
Infractions over €50,000 trigger automatic referral to the
40:12
National Anti Corruption Bureau and potential disbarment from
40:15
future bids. Strict consequences.
40:18
Judges in corruption courts get continuing education.
40:20
Co taught by law professors and reformed ethicists on Romans 13.
40:25
Call for magistrates to be a terror to bad conduct.
40:28
Linking law and ethics. And finally, how is financial
40:31
literacy promoted both for the public and future leaders?
40:34
Finally, money isn't just managed, it's discipled.
40:36
Guided by principal, local parishes host six week financial
40:40
literacy courses covering budgeting, understanding utility
40:43
bills, and spotting predatory loan schemes.
40:46
Utility invoices even come with QR codes linking to these
40:49
resources. And seminary curricula require
40:51
future pastors to take a module in basic project finance math so
40:55
they can guide their congregations through things
40:57
like bond purchases or PPP proposals knowledgeably, the
41:01
sources suggest this all creates A beneficial feedback loop.
41:05
Capital guided by transparent law enables infrastructure that
41:08
serves neighbor love, which yields social stability,
41:11
benefiting investors with steady yields.
41:13
It demonstrates Proverbs 11.25. Whoever waters will himself be
41:17
watered. What's really noticeable
41:19
throughout this whole plan is the explicit and active role of
41:22
the church. It's described not just as
41:24
providing chaplains on the side, but is functioning like oxygen
41:27
through distinct capacities. It goes well beyond simple
41:30
charity. Yes, the sources state that
41:32
among all the stakeholders involved, only the Church
41:34
carries a charter that predates and outlives them all.
41:38
And from this perspective, it alone has both the moral
41:41
vocabulary to name corruption as sin and the eschatological
41:44
horizon to persevere when budgets get tight or media
41:48
attention fades. And this contribution shows up
41:50
in 4 vital capacities. 4 vital capacities, yes.
41:54
Though distinct, they're presented as pulsing together
41:57
like a single lifeblood of witness.
41:59
First is the prophetic task. OK.
42:02
What does that involve? Pulpits and synods.
42:04
Church councils translate the Decalogue, the 10 commandments
42:08
into regulatory critique so. Speaking truth to structures.
42:11
Essentially challenging things like unjust tariffs that crush
42:15
widows, 12 hour Sabbath shifts that erode rest, and opaque
42:20
procurement practices. This balances respect for lawful
42:23
authority, Romans 13 with rebuking those who court
42:26
oligarchs, keeping the church from being tied to political
42:29
factions, or staying silent on injustice.
42:32
OK, that's the prophetic task. Second. 2nd is diagonal Mercy.
42:36
Act 6 shows practical relief as a church duty, so every parish
42:40
hall is envisioned as a micro relief hub.
42:42
Micro relief hub. Deacons, those church officers
42:44
for Mercy ministries, audit utility bills for single
42:47
mothers, stock closets with LED bulbs and insulating window,
42:51
film and energy poverty clinics where people learn about solar
42:54
grants that could cut their winter bills.
42:56
Very practical help. Very practical.
42:58
Rural pastors Dr. vans delivering containerized battery
43:01
packs and trauma informed counselors to frontline villages
43:05
singing psalms while line workers splice cables nearby.
43:08
Overseas partners send tools but not control, echoing Paul's
43:12
collection for Jerusalem. Respecting dignity.
43:15
Avoiding paternalism. Their capacity. 3rd is
43:18
vocational discipleship. The sources note historical
43:20
figures like Calvin integrated theology with various trades.
43:24
Similarly, seminaries partner with the Energy vocational
43:26
academies Morning devotions exegete both Proverbs Serpentry
43:30
and Ohm's Law, connecting faith and engineering.
43:34
Older master electricians catechize apprentices not just
43:36
in transformer safety but also the Heidelberg Catechism on the
43:39
Communion of Saints, seeing sharing tools as an ordinary act
43:42
of fellowship. And affirming gifts.
43:44
Yes, affirming gifts. Views on distinct roles are
43:48
acknowledged, as we said, But women's talents in cybersecurity
43:52
or solar installation are affirmed, leading everyone to
43:55
see work excellence as a form of worship.
43:57
Finance majors join a Steward Scholar cohort reading finance
44:01
cases alongside the Westminster Confession, preparing them for
44:04
audit committees with spreadsheets in one hand and
44:07
Scripture in the other. And the fourth capacity?
44:09
4th is apologetic beauty in the secularizing Urich.
44:13
The idea that electrons can bear witness might seem odd, but
44:17
Belgic Confession Article 2 speaks of creation as a most
44:20
elegant book. So finding beauty and meaning in
44:23
the reconstruction. Yes, churches host energy and
44:25
eschatology forums. Integrating grid diagrams with
44:28
Revelation 21, stained glass windows and repurposed
44:31
substations show the river of life flowing through turbines.
44:35
Advent candles are lit from rooftop solar, dramatizing John
44:38
1.5 whenever city street lamps flicker alive after curfew,
44:41
connecting spiritual light and physical light.
44:44
Public credibility, the sources argue, is tied to doctrinal
44:47
clarity. And these 4 capacities come
44:49
together in a specific ritual. Yes, they converge each December
44:53
21st, the longest night during the annual Covenant of Light
44:57
ritual. Tells us about that.
44:58
It takes place under leaking roofs of 1/2 repaired
45:01
substation. Lineman, orphans, widows, CEO's,
45:05
bishops, cabinet ministers all assemble.
45:08
A single solar powered Lantern pierces the dark.
45:12
Psalm 27 is sung in a minor key reflecting the war's reality.
45:16
Then what happens? Then grid performance charts are
45:18
acknowledged openly, followed by pledges to fix outages, pay
45:22
living wages, honor Sabbath rest.
45:24
Finally, a circuit breaker is thrown, lights come on, the
45:27
Psalm shifts to a major key, and elders pronounce the blessing
45:31
from number six over everyone. Wow.
45:33
This ritual stitches data to doxology, visually showing that
45:37
MW hours can indeed proclaim the glory of God.
45:40
So by integrating these roles, prophetic voice, practical
45:43
mercies, skills development, finding beauty, the Ukrainian
45:46
church is presented as more than just a beneficiary of the
45:49
rebuild infrastructure. Yes, it's portrayed as becoming
45:51
its spiritual backbone. In the words of the Westminster
45:55
Directory for Public Worship, it lights a candle that all may see
45:58
the way. And in that light.
46:00
In that light, widows read scripture, technicians rest on
46:02
the Lord's Day, and a nation learns again to measure
46:05
prosperity not just by kilowatt surpluses but by the radiance of
46:10
the Gospel reflected in every panel, turbine, and LED.
46:14
What really emerges for me from this deep dive is how
46:17
comprehensively this reformed approach tries to integrate
46:21
every single aspect of life, from the engineering, the
46:25
finance, the social well-being, all under a guiding theological
46:28
perspective. It's quite thorough.
46:30
It's about rebuilding not just the wires and the power plants,
46:33
but really a society where practical excellence and ethical
46:36
conduct are seen as expressions of faith.
46:39
It's a striking illustration, I think, of how principles like
46:42
stewardship and care for one's neighbor can genuinely Dr.
46:44
concrete actions, and how accountability isn't just seen
46:47
as a regulatory thing, but as a spiritual discipline.
46:50
The goal is certainly a more resilient and flourishing
46:53
nation, for sure, but it seems to aim even beyond that, to
46:56
offer a witness to the world of how a specific worldview can
46:59
shape recovery. So for you, our listener, maybe
47:02
consider this. If such a detailed and ambitious
47:05
plan for national reconstruction could be so thoroughly shaped by
47:08
these principles, where might similar guiding convictions
47:12
apply in other areas, other societal challenges, or even
47:15
just in the daily activities of our own vocations?
47:17
Yeah. What structures might we build
47:19
or rebuild if we approach them with that kind of comprehensive,
47:23
thoughtful intentionality? That concludes this deep dive
47:26
into Ukraine's energy renewal and its unique theological
47:29
framework. We hope it sparked some new
47:31
lines of thought for you. Until next time, keep seeking
47:34
those illuminating insights.