Ukraine increased natural gas imports to 70 million cubic meters (mcm) per day, which is the maximum figure since 2014 when natural gas was supplied from Russia, Head of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC (GTSOU) Serhiy Makogon has said.
“Such a considerable increase in imports became possible due to the creation of virtual points on the borders with Poland and Hungary, as well as the launch of virtual reverse flow. Last year the maximum imports [from the EU] did not exceed 66 mcm per day and was limited due to the existing infrastructure. Due to virtual reverse flow today, imports could reach up to 170 mcm per day,” Makogon said on his Facebook page on July 11.
He also said that major part of imported gas is pumped into the underground gas storage facilities (UGS) and a significant volume of it is supplied by European companies.
“The introduction of European rules of work on the border is an important part of Ukraine’s integration into the European gas market. Independent imports is a guarantee of fair prices for Ukrainian consumers,” Makogon said.
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 14/07/20
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
DTEK has become the first company in Ukraine to join the Hydrogen Europe Association, which unites leaders in the field of hydrogen technology in Europe, the energy holding’s press service said on July 11.
According to Chief Innovation Officer at DTEK Emanuele Volpe, this membership will enable the company to build a network of direct contacts with international partners interested in developing the hydrogen economy both in Ukraine and around the world.
“European and local energy systems are transforming. Renewable energy sources place a heavy burden on the existing network, as carbon energy ceases to be sustainable ecologically and economically. The use of hydrogen technologies opens up opportunities for both the decarbonization of the main sectors of the economy, and the development of a new sector of the economy which will create additional job places,” he said.
In 2020, DTEK established a project team to study the possibilities of using hydrogen in the Ukrainian economy. The team is currently conducting an in-depth feasibility study on the use of hydrogen in the fields of transport, energy and industry, the Chief Innovation Officer said.
“In the next couple of years DTEK plans to organize a pilot project using hydrogen to further develop the technology in the company and Ukraine as a whole,” Volpe said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law on amendments to certain Ukraine’s legislative acts on government support of culture, creative industries, tourism, small and medium businesses due to the restrictive measures related to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.
“Creative industries, cultural institutions are among those which suffered most from lockdown. After all, their activities have stopped almost completely and now they live in total uncertainty. These are entire sectors of the economy that are now on the brink of survival. They also pay taxes and provide people with jobs, therefore, need no less support than traditional business sectors,” the head of the state said during signing the document.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted law No. 692-IX at second reading on June 16. It was supported by 343 MPs. The document establishes a reduction in property rental fees at the request of the tenant of a cultural institution engaged in entrepreneurial activity using this property, for the entire time that it could not be used.
The document also provides additional opportunities for radio by simplifying procedures by amending the law of Ukraine on advertising.
It is important that the document also stipulates the government support for cinematography in the form of providing a government grant for the development of film projects. It is noted that for national fiction, animated, documentary films, films for children (including artistic and cultural significance), films of artistic and cultural significance (copyright), television films, series and debut films, it can be up to 100% of total estimated cost inclusive.
Amendments are also being made to the law of Ukraine on the rental of state-owned and communal property in order to normalize the provision of paid services in the field of culture and arts by cultural institutions.
India has donated 50,000 capsules of the OMVIR antiviral drug, which is used to treat patients with COVID-19, as humanitarian aid to Ukraine, the Ministry of Health reports.
According to the report, these medications will be enough to treat about 5,000 patients.
“Ukraine is very grateful for the humanitarian aid of 50,000 capsules of the OMVIR preparation. This drug is included in the domestic treatment protocol and our hospitals, identified as supporting in the fight against COVID-19, are very interested in receiving it. This lot is enough to treat about 5,000 patients,” Ihor Ivaschenko, the Deputy Minister of Health for European Integration, said.
Ambassador of India to Ukraine Partha Satpathy noted that, if necessary, there may be additional deliveries of this drug.
Ukrzaliznytsia in January-June 2020 cut cargo transportation to 143.2 million tonnes, which is 8.7% less than during the same time in 2019.
The company said on its Telegram channel for shippers on Monday that export reduced by 5.4% over this period to 38% of the total volume of cargo transportations, import – by 19.4% to 12%, transit – by 10.2% to 5%, and domestic transport services – by 8% to 45%.
In June 2020, cargo transportations reduced by 5.1% to 23.3 million tonnes. Export dropped by 15.8% to 32% of the total volume of cargo transportations, transit – by 11.7% to 4%. Meanwhile, import increased by 5% to 13% and domestic transportation services – by 1.1% to 51% of the total volume of cargo transportations.
