nordstream2

Wednesday, February 17

McDonald’s Ukraine plans to expand a pilot program of restaurant waste recycling to all 96 restaurants in the country by the end of this year McDonald’s Ukraine plans to expand a pilot program of restaurant waste recycling to all 96 restaurants in the country by the end of this year, the company announced yesterday. As part of a world...

Kyiv’s 11th Regus office work space opens in Podil next month Kyiv’s 11th Regus office work space opens in Podil next month, reports the parent company, Luxembourg-based IWG Plc. Despite last year’s economic recession, total occupancy of the 10 existing Regus wo...

Kyiv’s Sikorsky Airport is to add 500 meters to its runway, allowing Wizz Air, its primary user, to use larger jets. Kyiv’s Sikorsky Airport is to add 500 meters to its runway, allowing Wizz Air, its primary user, to use larger jets. By moving to Airbus 321 jets, Wizz Air says it can reduce frequencies and noise in ...

Mayor Klitschko signed an order last week for design work to start on a 5-year upgrade of the airport Mayor Klitschko signed an order last week for design work to start on a 5-year upgrade of the airport. By expanding the runway to 2,810 meters, upgrading lights and adding an instrument landing system...

German and Biden Administration officials are discussing a package of measures that would allow the Russia-German gas line to open, but protect Ukraine’s security concerns German and Biden Administration officials are discussing a package of measures that would allow the Russia-German gas line to open, but protect Ukraine’s security concerns, according to a Financial Ti...

“As Berlin seeks solutions, early signs from Washington indicate that the Biden administration is seeking to defuse the Nord Stream 2 debate,” “As Berlin seeks solutions, early signs from Washington indicate that the Biden administration is seeking to defuse the Nord Stream 2 debate,” the FT writes. “Two knowledgeable sources said [US Secret...

A cold weather spike in electricity consumption, a lack of coal, and power plant breakdowns are forcing Eastern Ukraine to import electricity A cold weather spike in electricity consumption, a lack of coal, and power plant breakdowns are forcing Eastern Ukraine to import electricity from Belarus and Russia and Western Ukraine to import elec...

Electricity consumption last week was 6.5% more than forecast Electricity consumption last week was 6.5% more than forecast. But coal reserves fell to one third of required minimums. Thanks to imports, Kudrytskyi does not predict immediate power shortages.

Friday, January 15

Aware of the IMF’s core attachment to market prices for gas, Aware of the IMF’s core attachment to market prices for gas, acting Energy Minister Yuriy Vitrenko and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko also explained the government’s position to IMF representatives...

From London, Timothy Ash stressed the importance of market prices for a major source of Ukraine’s heat and electricity: From London, Timothy Ash stressed the importance of market prices for a major source of Ukraine’s heat and electricity: “The move to market-based gas pricing in Ukraine has produced huge wins in recen...

Spawning street protests in at least eight regional capitals, the spike in Ukraine’s gas prices stems from Spawning street protests in at least eight regional capitals, the spike in Ukraine’s gas prices stems from: cold weather, high prices in Europe, and a poorly implemented market opening that allows pri...

At stake is $2.9 billion of low interest loans remaining to be disbursed from the IMF’s $5 billion Stand-By Arrangement of last summer. At stake is $2.9 billion of low interest loans remaining to be disbursed from the IMF’s $5 billion Stand-By Arrangement of last summer. The agreement is widely seen as a seal of approval for Ukraine’s...

One year after the last-minute renegotiation of Ukraine’s gas transit deal with Gazprom, One year after the last-minute renegotiation of Ukraine’s gas transit deal with Gazprom, Naftogaz reports that the Russian state company paid its 2020 bill in full — $2.1 billion. Gazprom paid f...

Today, the US State Department is expected to issue a report listing which European companies working on Nord Stream 2 will be subject to US sanctions, Today, the US State Department is expected to issue a report listing which European companies working on Nord Stream 2 will be subject to US sanctions, Reuters reports from Washington. In advance, Ram...

TIU Canada of Calgary is suing Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant for disconnecting the Canadians’ 10.5 MW solar plant last March TIU Canada of Calgary is suing Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant for disconnecting the Canadians’ 10.5 MW solar plant last March, ostensibly because the Ferroalloy Plant did not want to pay green power rates. ...

Ukraine’s coal production fell by 7% last year, hitting 29 million tons, near the level of 1916 Ukraine’s coal production fell by 7% last year, hitting 29 million tons, near the level of 1916, reports the Energy Ministry. Employment in coal mines is about 30,000 today – 6% the level of the end o...

Western Ukraine Coal Construction, Ukraine’s last state company devoted to building coal mines, goes up for auction in 10 days Western Ukraine Coal Construction, Ukraine’s last state company devoted to building coal mines, goes up for auction in 10 days, reports the State Property Fund. The company has 15,700 square meters at...

The State Property Fund plans to sell 500 state properties this year to private owners The State Property Fund plans to sell 500 state properties this year to private owners, Dmytro Sennychenko, the head of the Fund, wrote on Facebook. “Privatization grows jobs, improves the socio-econo...

Regional airports are primed for a post pandemic takeoff Regional airports are primed for a post pandemic takeoff. UkSATSE traffic numbers for 2020 confirmed the dominance of Kyiv’s two big airports – Boryspil (47,524 flights) and Sikorsky (12,805). The air...

The EBRD is working with the Infrastructure Ministry to create dedicated funds to develop Ukraine’s airports and railway infrastructure The EBRD is working with the Infrastructure Ministry to create dedicated funds to develop Ukraine’s airports and railway infrastructure, Minister Vladyslav Krykliy said yesterday on the ministry websi...

The government’s plan to cut gas prices by one third is sparking a flurry of meetings between the IMF representative and government ministers. “ The government’s plan to cut gas prices by one third is sparking a flurry of meetings between the IMF representative and government ministers. “We had a constructive meeting with the IMF on gas prices...

Monday, January 11

Gazprom re-starts construction of Nord Stream 2 on Friday Gazprom re-starts construction of Nord Stream 2 on Friday, using a flotilla of three Russian boats capable of finishing the Russia to Germany gas line by May, The Financial Times reports from Moscow a...

“The US sanctions will delay the launch of the project, but will not stop its completion,” “The US sanctions will delay the launch of the project, but will not stop its completion,” predicts Naz Masraff, Europe director at Eurasia Group. “Ultimately, Moscow, with the help of Berlin, will fi...

With Russian gas transit across Ukraine only guaranteed through 2024, Ukraine’s pipeline operator is negotiating alternatives: With Russian gas transit across Ukraine only guaranteed through 2024, Ukraine’s pipeline operator is negotiating alternatives: storage of gas from new LNG terminals in the Baltic and Adriatic, and tra...

Pro-Russian politicians promoting Russia’s coronavirus vaccine are making advances as the West delays sending its own vaccines to Ukraine Pro-Russian politicians promoting Russia’s coronavirus vaccine are making advances as the West delays sending its own vaccines to Ukraine, The New York Times reports in a story headlined: “In Vaccine ...

Alfa-Bank Ukraine forecasts the 2020 year-end foreign direct investment figure will be $0.00 billion Alfa-Bank Ukraine forecasts the 2020 year-end foreign direct investment figure will be $0.00 billion. By contrast, net FDI inflow was $5.2 billion in 2019 and $4.5 billion in 2018.

Lack of rule of law, unpaid debts to solar and wind investors, and last year’s purge of internationally-known reformers from government make for bleak prospects for inbound investment this year Lack of rule of law, unpaid debts to solar and wind investors, and last year’s purge of internationally-known reformers from government make for bleak prospects for inbound investment this year, Ander...

By the end of next year, Ukrhydroenergo plans to put into operation at its hydro plants energy storage systems with capacity of 212 MW By the end of next year, Ukrhydroenergo plans to put into operation at its hydro plants energy storage systems with capacity of 212 MW and solar power plants with a capacity of 65 MW, says Ihor Syrota...

DTEK is opening “an investment hub” in London to attract investments for renewable energy projects in the Ukraine and in the EU, DTEK is opening “an investment hub” in London to attract investments for renewable energy projects in the Ukraine and in the EU, the company reports. “We created a hub to attract investment in new ene...

Turkey and Ukraine are working on “more than 30 joint projects” for production of military equipment, Turkey and Ukraine are working on “more than 30 joint projects” for production of military equipment, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Turkey Andrii Sybiha says in a lengthy written said interview with Defense...

A Turkey-Ukraine-Poland container route is in the pipeline for 2021 A Turkey-Ukraine-Poland container route is in the pipeline for 2021 as Ukrferry and Ferrplus have signed an agreement with Ukrzaliznytsia’s Lisky terminal in Kyiv. In a multimodal route, containers wi...

On the first anniversary of the shootdown of the UIA passenger jet over Tehran On the first anniversary of the shootdown of the UIA passenger jet over Tehran, Ukraine joined Afghanistan, Canada, Sweden the UK in stating: “Our countries will hold Iran to account to deliver justic...

Ryanair is suspending about 70% of its flights out of Kyiv Borsypil until April Ryanair is suspending about 70% of its flights out of Kyiv Borsypil until April, according to an analysis of the discount airline’s booking system by avianews.com. Until spring, only three out o...

Monday, January 4

To prevent a strengthening of the hryvnia, the central bank bought a net $335.5 million on the interbank market in December. To prevent a strengthening of the hryvnia, the central bank bought a net $335.5 million on the interbank market in December. By contrast, during the whole year, the bank bought a net $1.1 billion, rep...

Ukraine’s minimum wage increased Friday by $35, $212 per month Ukraine’s minimum wage increased Friday by $35, $212 per month. On Dec. 1, it increases to $230. With the minimum wage largely used to calculate pensions, Ukraine’s average monthly wage is $480.

Real wages were up 8% yoy in November Real wages were up 8% yoy in November, reports the State Statistics Service. Nationally, the average nominal wage was $404. In Kyiv, the wage was 54% higher — $622. Nationwide, the biggest regio...

Despite the global economic recession, Ukraine’s trade deficit dropped in half last year Despite the global economic recession, Ukraine’s trade deficit dropped in half last year, from $10.22 billion to $4.9 billion in 2020, Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Trade Representative, wrote on Facebook. ...

Despite a poor harvest, exports of the top three grains – corn, wheat and barley – were down only 2.3% yoy in dollar terms Despite a poor harvest, exports of the top three grains – corn, wheat and barley – were down only 2.3% yoy in dollar terms, to $9.4 billion for 2020. “Due to the reduction in the harvest, physical exp...

With new US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 made final by Friday’s vote in the US Senate With new US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 made final by Friday’s vote in the US Senate, the Norwegian company, Det Norske Veritas (DNV) GL announced Saturday that it will not be able to certify the $11.6...

“ “Russia Pushes Ahead on Europe Gas Link Before U.S. Sanctions,” headlines a Bloomberg story posted Thursday, the day before the US Senate vote. With 150 km of the 1,230 km pipeline left to be laid, No...

“US imposes new sanctions to kill off Putin’s pet pipeline,” “US imposes new sanctions to kill off Putin’s pet pipeline,” headlines an Atlantic Council piece by Diane Francis, posted Saturday. “It means almost certain doom for Putin’s most important energy proj...

Russia cut its volume of gas pumped across Ukraine by 38% in 2020 Russia cut its volume of gas pumped across Ukraine by 38% in 2020, compared to the previous year. Although Gazprom pumped 55.8 billion cubic meters through Ukraine’s east-west pipeline system, Russia’...

In reverse In reverse, gas transportation from Europe to Ukraine hit almost 16 bcm last year, 12% more than in 2019 and 27% more than the annual average for 2016-18. About 10 bcm went into storage as 52 Ukrainia...

Serbian President Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić opened Friday Serbia’s 403 km extension of the Balkan Stream natural-gas pipeline, AP reports from Belgrade. Fuel for the line comes from Anapa, Russia, and then flo...

Pumped from the Tristar Ruby, a US cargo of LNG from Cove Point, Maryland inaugurated last weekend Croatia’s first liquefied natural gas landing terminal Pumped from the Tristar Ruby, a US cargo of LNG from Cove Point, Maryland inaugurated last weekend Croatia’s first liquefied natural gas landing terminal at Krk, an island in the northern Adriatic. PO...

Separately, Azeri gas has started moving through the new Separately, Azeri gas has started moving through the new Trans Adriatic Pipeline, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports from Baku, citing Azerbaijan’s Energy Ministry. This 878 km pipeline picks up Azeri gas fr...

Tomasz Fiala, CEO of Dragon Capital, and Ivan Svitek, former Chairman of Alfa Bank Ukraine, have signed an agreement to buy Unex Bank from Vadim Novinsky’s Smart Holding Tomasz Fiala, CEO of Dragon Capital, and Ivan Svitek, former Chairman of Alfa Bank Ukraine, have signed an agreement to buy Unex Bank from Vadim Novinsky’s Smart Holding. “The Antimonopoly Commi...

Wednesday, December 16

Despite the drops, Minister Petrashko said the 2020 harvest is “three times more than the needs of the domestic market Despite the drops, Minister Petrashko said the 2020 harvest is “three times more than the needs of the domestic market, and also allows us to maintain a leading position in the export of agricultural ...

Thousands of small business owners and workers yesterday protested the impending coronavirus lockdown and end of tax privileges Thousands of small business owners and workers yesterday protested the impending coronavirus lockdown and end of tax privileges, blocking central Kyiv’s Maidan Square and Kreschatyk Street into the ni...

One quarter of Kyiv restaurants have closed permanently due to coronavirus restrictions this year One quarter of Kyiv restaurants have closed permanently due to coronavirus restrictions this year, estimates a new study, “Consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine measures for the leading...