Partners news

Monday, February 18

DTEK Renewables has opened the second largest solar power station in Europe, the 200 MW Solar Farm-1, DTEK Renewables has opened the second largest solar power station in Europe, the 200 MW Solar Farm-1, in the Nikopol district of the Dnipropetrovsk region. The contractor was the China Machinery Engin...

In neighboring Kirovohrad region, DTEK plans to build three solar plants for a total of 190 MW by the end of next year. In neighboring Kirovohrad region, DTEK plans to build three solar plants for a total of 190 MW by the end of next year. According to regional officials, DTEK plans to start building this year the 60 M...

Ukraine’s first solar panel production plant starts work this week in Vinnytsia Ukraine’s first solar panel production plant starts work this week in Vinnytsia. Using Chinese technology, the Kness factory starts production at an annual panel capacity of 200 MW. By the end of this...

The Rada is expected to vote next month on a bill that would replace high renewable energy feed in tariffs with energy auctions. The Rada is expected to vote next month on a bill that would replace high renewable energy feed in tariffs with energy auctions. Matteo Pattrone, the new EBRD representative in Ukraine, warns excessiv...

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, visits Ukraine through Feb. 20, Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, visits Ukraine through Feb. 20, spending Monday and Tuesday in Kyiv and Wednesday in Lviv. His visit comes as EU foreign ministers meet today in Brussel...

With the state railroad due to pay $150 million on a Eurobond next month, the Cabinet of Ministers has re-authorized Ukrzaliznytsia to issue up to $500 million in Eurobonds at interest rates up to 11% a year, With the state railroad due to pay $150 million on a Eurobond next month, the Cabinet of Ministers has re-authorized Ukrzaliznytsia to issue up to $500 million in Eurobonds at interest rates up to 11%...

Ukrzalyznitsia plans to spend nearly $1 billion on capital expenditures this year – one third more than last year. Ukrzalyznitsia plans to spend nearly $1 billion on capital expenditures this year – one third more than last year. Spending is to go for 3,650 new freight cars, the repair of 7,000 freight cars and th...

“How much will these injections help solve the main problem of the railway – a shortage of locomotives?” “How much will these injections help solve the main problem of the railway – a shortage of locomotives?” Aleksandr Krivoruchko, head of the Freight Car Owners Association, writes in Obozrevatel....

Germany’s Chancellor Merkel balanced her support of the Nord Stream 2 Russia-Germany gas line with the support of Ukraine’s continued role as a gas transit country to Europe Germany’s Chancellor Merkel balanced her support of the Nord Stream 2 Russia-Germany gas line with the support of Ukraine’s continued role as a gas transit country to Europe. “Ukraine must remai...

President Trump has signed bills that increase aid to Ukraine to nearly $700 million, Ukraine’s Embassy in Washington writes on Facebook. President Trump has signed bills that increase aid to Ukraine to nearly $700 million, Ukraine’s Embassy in Washington writes on Facebook. Last week, USAID launched an $85 million program by TetraTech,...

Ukraine’s deficit in the foreign trade of goods and services slightly more than doubled last year, hitting $5.8 billion, Ukraine’s deficit in the foreign trade of goods and services slightly more than doubled last year, hitting $5.8 billion, reports the State Statistics Service. Exports of goods and services in 2018 gre...

The number of Ukrainians using Facebook increased by 30% last year, to 13 million The number of Ukrainians using Facebook increased by 30% last year, to 13 million, according to a survey by Agency PlusOne. Since May 2017, when Ukraine banned the use of Russia-based social media net...

Friday, February 15

Wizz Air was the fastest growing airline in Ukraine last year, recording a 73% increase in flights Wizz Air was the fastest growing airline in Ukraine last year, recording a 73% increase in flights, to 15,251, according to UkSATSE, Ukraine’s air traffic control agency. For the other top five: UIA i...

Plans for LNG terminals proliferate on the coasts of Central Europe Plans for LNG terminals proliferate on the coasts of Central Europe, competing with Russia’s $10 billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is crossing the Baltic Sea. LNG landing terminals open opport...

Bending to US pressure, German officials announced Tuesday they will build at least two LNG landing terminals on its Baltic Coast Bending to US pressure, German officials announced Tuesday they will build at least two LNG landing terminals on its Baltic Coast. After talks in Berlin, US Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette sai...

Further east, Further east, Polish gas giant PGNiG has signed deals with two U.S. LNG companies to buy up to 2 million tons of US LNG a year for 20 years, starting in 2022. The gas will land at Świnoujście, Poland’...

In Lithuania, Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevičius, fresh from a visit to Washington, said Tuesday his country’s ‘Independence’ LNG landing terminal in Klaipėda could serve as a port of entry for US gas to Eastern Europe In Lithuania, Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevičius, fresh from a visit to Washington, said Tuesday his country’s ‘Independence’ LNG landing terminal in Klaipėda could serve as a port of entry for US ga...

In the Adriatic, Croatia recently approved building a In the Adriatic, Croatia recently approved building a €237 million LNG landing terminal and regasification plant on Krk, an island in northern Croatia. Golar LNG, a Bermuda-based LNG shipping company,...

Looking beyond Russia’s pipeline gas, the Financial Times’ Lex writes Wednesday: “Europe could source even cheaper liquefied gas from other sources.” Looking beyond Russia’s pipeline gas, the Financial Times’ Lex writes Wednesday: “Europe could source even cheaper liquefied gas from other sources.” The FT calculates that LNG from Qatar and Nigeria ...

While Russian gas transit through Ukraine fell by 7% last year, it spiked up 26% year-on-year in January, While Russian gas transit through Ukraine fell by 7% last year, it spiked up 26% year-on-year in January, to 7.6 billion cubic meters. Today, about one third of Russia’s gas exports to Europe cross Uk...

Explaining last week’s firing of the head of Ukraine’s state gas production company, Explaining last week’s firing of the head of Ukraine’s state gas production company, Prime Minister Groysman tells the Cabinet that he is “extremely dissatisfied” that UkrGazVdobuvannya “actually fail...

China’s Xinjiang Beiken Energy Engineering Co., a UkrGazVdobuvannya contractor China’s Xinjiang Beiken Energy Engineering Co., a UkrGazVdobuvannya contractor, is working well in Poltava with the gas production company, the People’s Daily reports in an article headlined: “Chinese...

Over the last two years, Ukrainian companies have replaced 50,000 Russian-made parts for the nation’s defense industry, Over the last two years, Ukrainian companies have replaced 50,000 Russian-made parts for the nation’s defense industry, President Poroshenko said Thursday, in Kharkiv, a major military production cent...

Posco’s purchase of the big grain terminal under construction in Mykolayiv means “billions of dollars and hundreds of additional jobs” for the Black Sea port Posco’s purchase of the big grain terminal under construction in Mykolayiv means “billions of dollars and hundreds of additional jobs” for the Black Sea port, Yuri Budnik, head of the seller, Onexim G...

Kherson and Mykolayiv, the two Black Sea ports closest to the Sea of Azov, had the biggest cargo increases of Ukraine’s 10 largest ports in January Kherson and Mykolayiv, the two Black Sea ports closest to the Sea of Azov, had the biggest cargo increases of Ukraine’s 10 largest ports in January, the Sea Ports Authority reports. Because of Russian...

Turkish Airlines, the busiest foreign airline serving Ukraine, increased its passengers on Ukraine routes by 28%, topping 800,000, the airline’s Ukraine director, Turkish Airlines, the busiest foreign airline serving Ukraine, increased its passengers on Ukraine routes by 28%, topping 800,000, the airline’s Ukraine director, Dinser Saychi, tells reporters. With ...

Thursday, February 14

Road: Road:

Ports: Ports:

Preparing for aid talks with the EU, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan asserts Ukraine has the “cheapest” road repair in costs in Europe: €300,000-600,000 per kilometer. Preparing for aid talks with the EU, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan asserts Ukraine has the “cheapest” road repair in costs in Europe: €300,000-600,000 per kilometer. Building from scratch ...

South Korea’s Posco Daewoo is buying 75% of a 2.5 million ton a year grain export terminal under construction in Mykolayiv. South Korea’s Posco Daewoo is buying 75% of a 2.5 million ton a year grain export terminal under construction in Mykolayiv. South Korea, a nation of 52 million people, imports almost all its wheat and...

Ukraine increased food exports last year by 5.4%, to $15 billion Ukraine increased food exports last year by 5.4%, to $15 billion, according to the Ukrainian Food Export Board. Grains accounted for about half of exports. India was the biggest buyer of Ukrainian far...

Farm exports account for 39% of foreign currency entering Ukraine Farm exports account for 39% of foreign currency entering Ukraine, Prime Minister Groysman told the Cabinet of Ministers Wednesday. President Poroshenko told the Dragon conference Tuesday that a key c...

Mergers and acquisitions increased by 78% in 2018 year over year, to $1.8 billion, KPMG reports Mergers and acquisitions increased by 78% in 2018 year over year, to $1.8 billion, KPMG reports in its annual Ukraine M&A Review. The number of deals increased by 19%, to 80. Foreign investment in...

Despite the lack of a farmland market, agriculture attracted the highest portion of the foreign investment. Despite the lack of a farmland market, agriculture attracted the highest portion of the foreign investment. Saudi Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company, or SALIC, bought Mriya Agro Holding for ...

Capital investment grew by almost 20% in 2018 Capital investment grew by almost 20% in 2018, Prime Minister Groysman tells the cabinet Wednesday. “957 industrial and industrial facilities were repaired and reconstructed – new products and n...

Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile telephone company, is testing in Kyiv and Odesa its Narrowband Internet of Things network, or NB IoT Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile telephone company, is testing in Kyiv and Odesa its Narrowband Internet of Things network, or NB IoT. After testing with client businesses this month, it plans to la...

Lifecell, Ukraine’s third largest mobile operator, is partnering with IoT Ukraine to launch IoT networks, first in Kyiv and Lviv, later in Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa. Lifecell, Ukraine’s third largest mobile operator, is partnering with IoT Ukraine to launch IoT networks, first in Kyiv and Lviv, later in Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa. To cover 90% of Kyiv, the Turkish...

Ten months after launching 4G service, Kyivstar says it now covers cities and towns representing about half of Ukraine’s population or 21.5 million people. Ten months after launching 4G service, Kyivstar says it now covers cities and towns representing about half of Ukraine’s population or 21.5 million people. Maps indicate that about 90% of Ukraine’s te...

EU foreign ministers meet Monday in Brussels to discuss aid to Ukraine’s southeast EU foreign ministers meet Monday in Brussels to discuss aid to Ukraine’s southeast and sanctions on Russia for interfering with merchant shipping in the Azov. With unanimity needed, EU sanctions are e...

Rail: Rail:

Wednesday, February 13

Izmail airport, closed for a decade, will reopen Izmail airport, closed for a decade, will reopen, Yuro Dimchoglo, deputy chairman for Odesa Regional Council, tells the Center for Transportation Studies. “We are planning to relaunch the airport,” he...

Romania’s Complex Delta has completed the biggest dredging in a decade of Izmail port, Romania’s Complex Delta has completed the biggest dredging in a decade of Izmail port, the removal of 185,000 cubic meters of river silt. “For the first time, a foreign company was attracted to the dr...

Ukraine’s long delayed car and truck ferry across the Danube, from Olivka to Isaccea, Romania, should start this summer, Ukraine’s long delayed car and truck ferry across the Danube, from Olivka to Isaccea, Romania, should start this summer, Maxim Stepanov, chair of the Odessa Regional Administration, writes on Facebook...

On the opposite end of the country, in Mariupol, work is underway to ease isolation caused by Russia’s harassment of merchant ships. On the opposite end of the country, in Mariupol, work is underway to ease isolation caused by Russia’s harassment of merchant ships. To remove a rail bottleneck, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to double a final...

Driving investment in rail, cargo at Mariupol seaport was down 27% in January, year over year, to 335,000 tons Driving investment in rail, cargo at Mariupol seaport was down 27% in January, year over year, to 335,000 tons, the port administration reports. By contrast, cargo was down 10% in 2018, over 2017. Aft...

With the Presidential election seven weeks away, Ukraine’s leaders bluntly warned of the dangers of populism in speeches at Dragon Capital’s 15th Investor Conference. With the Presidential election seven weeks away, Ukraine’s leaders bluntly warned of the dangers of populism in speeches at Dragon Capital’s 15th Investor Conference. Recalling past attempts at contro...

Prime Minister Groysman warned: “Any step in the populistic direction will cost the Ukrainian people dearly.” Prime Minister Groysman warned: “Any step in the populistic direction will cost the Ukrainian people dearly.” He said EU countries could afford such experiments because they have decades of democracy ...

To escape poverty, Ukraine needs to grow by at least 5% a year, the Prime Minister said. To escape poverty, Ukraine needs to grow by at least 5% a year, the Prime Minister said. After growing by about 3.3% last year, Ukraine’s GDP growth will slow this year to 2.8%, according to consensus...

Interest rates could be lowered later this year if inflation stays on track to end the year at 6.3% Interest rates could be lowered later this year if inflation stays on track to end the year at 6.3%, Yakiv Smoli governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, told Dragon. Last month, year-on-year inflati...

Within two months, Ukraine hopes to win the second tranche of EU Within two months, Ukraine hopes to win the second tranche of EU €500 million macro-financial aid, Finance Minister Oksana Markarova told reporters at Dragon. At the same time, she is negotiating a ne...