RECOVERY CONSTRUCTION FORUM UKRAINE was held on April 11, 2024, bringing together government officials and the construction community to discuss current industry challenges and effectively coordinate efforts to rebuild Ukraine.
The forum was attended by over 2,000 people, including community representatives, construction business representatives, architects, construction students and other guests.
– The first block of discussion was devoted to the state policy of Ukraine’s reconstruction.
– Ms. Natalia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine, spoke about the current priorities of community and infrastructure recovery, tools and resources that are provided to communities for their participation in the recovery process. Ms. Natalia paid special attention to effective coordination between different agencies and local authorities in the recovery process.
– “If something happens, it is only because of the symbiosis between the state and the market. Thank you to those who support us in the implementation of decisions, sometimes telling us what will not work and what needs to be improved,” Ms. Natalia said.
– Valeria Ivanova, Deputy Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Restoration Agency), told about the areas of responsibility of the Restoration Agency: these are large infrastructure facilities, transportation infrastructure, logistics and border crossing checkpoints, frontline infrastructure, restoration of damaged and destroyed towns and villages, restoration of housing and social infrastructure. For example, 330 bridges have been repaired during 2022-2023.
– “Monitoring and analysis of procurement has already been implemented – we verify with experts the tender documentation for the absence of discriminatory criteria. We also evaluate the efficiency of procurement, analyze estimates, improve approaches,” said Valeria Ivanova.
– Mr. Oleksandr Novitskiy, Chairman of the State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Planning of Ukraine (SIAM), told what mechanisms are in place to ensure transparency of SIAM work and in what direction they will be developed. In particular, he noted the role of automation of processes of obtaining authorization documentation for transparency. For example, last year the number of applications for objects of impact class CC2 and CC3 increased.
– “For us, a builder is a businessman who creates added value. We stand, as we have since the first day of our existence, clearly and confidently on zero tolerance to corruption. If you have not had the experience – apply, and check,” Mr. Alexander assured.
He said that this year the decision is overdue and a preliminary draft of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has already been prepared to return full-fledged licensing: “We are already at the finish line, when we will be able to return normal licensing, but taking into account the past experience. In order to create a convenient service, which will be predominantly automatic. And where the automatic mode will not work for technical reasons, there will be our employees who are always ready to provide all the necessary professional assistance.”
– Valeriy Sushkevich, Chairman of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine, noted the importance of accessibility of the space for all Ukrainians. He emphasized that given the large number of warriors who have been injured, the issue of accessibility is more acute than ever.
– “All state bodies should work on accessibility so that those who protected us could live in a civilized Ukraine,” Mr. Valeriy emphasized.
– Eugene Metzger, Chairman of the Board of Ukrfinjitlo, informed about the current status of the eOselli program, its prospects and achievements. Thus, in 2024, 4 more banks were accredited in the program, 2,553 families received their housing, 70 Ukrainians bought private houses under the program.
– “We are creating a new product – rent with the right to buy. We are focusing on internally displaced persons,” Mr. Eugene shared.
He also presented the innovations of the eVidnovlennya program, which are in the process of coming into force: the certificate as a down payment on mortgage, the opportunity to buy better and bigger housing, convenient integration of the program in the Diya app.
– Lev Partskhaladze, President of the CSU, presented the CSU initiative on the need to develop model projects of social infrastructure facilities: “We must prepare ourselves. The projects ready for realization will allow to restore the destroyed faster and more qualitatively”.
– Alexander Prokudin, Head of Kherson Regional Military Administration, in his video address presented statistics of destroyed and damaged objects. He spoke about the tools and mechanisms of reconstruction. Mr. Alexander paid special attention to helping people who suffered as a result of Russian aggression.
– Vitaliy Boyko and Andriy Garbuziuk, logisticians of the Bureviy Brigade, presented the possibility of helping the military – through the collection of FPV drones.
– “The kind of help that we have now is help for support, not for Victory. We propose to join forces,” Mr. Andrey noted about the initiative “Wings of Architects”.
– Igor Guda, Founder of Creator-Bud, presented the company’s role in the reconstruction, in particular active participation in providing housing for the military. He noted that today the effective tool is low-rise construction, which is carried out quickly: the process of erection, connection to the eOsel program and implementation.
– Also in the framework of RECOVERY CONSTRUCTION FORUM UKRAINE considered the possibilities of community support and the role of business associations in reconstruction processes.
– Sergiy Mamedov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of CBU, Vice-President of the Association of Ukrainian Banks, Chairman of the Board of Globus Bank, financial expert, who drew attention to the fact that in the second half of 2023, banks’ loan portfolios grew by UAH 35 billion or 16% of GDP growth.
– Anatoliy Kinakh, President of the USSPP, spoke about the difficulties faced by business today. He noted that the most painful issue is access to resources due to the huge scale of destruction.
The speakers also discussed the difficulties faced by business in today’s conditions and possible ways to overcome them. Representatives of the construction business described how demand has changed in the face of the large amount of destruction.
– Victor Zhynger, Marketing Manager of VYURT-UKRAINE, noted that the projects of reinforcing the foundation part after a missile attack, building up the existing monolithic slab with the help of “post-reinforcement” technology (post-REBAR) have become more frequent.
– Andriy Korol, Commercial Director of Caparol Ukraine, presented the company’s experience in technical selection of solutions, documentation and full technical support of new construction projects of key players in the Ukrainian market.
– Sergiy Skorik, Commercial Director of Kvertus, informed about the latest achievements in drone defense. Thus, the company is able to manufacture thousands of devices per month and has unique combat experience in countering enemy drones.
– Within the framework of the panel discussion on “GROWING GROUMS: POSSIBILITIES, PLANNING AND INNOVATION”, communities presented their own experience in rebuilding and working with international funds to raise funds, their main needs and priorities. They discussed where communities should start, in particular in developing a comprehensive recovery plan. Representatives of foundations and international organizations told what tools and mechanisms they use to support and restore communities and where they start. They noted that the search for funds often causes difficulties – in order to allocate funding it is necessary to present a ready-made project, and accordingly, specialists who can develop it are needed.
– The experts also participated in a panel discussion on technical regulation and recovery standards. They reviewed trends and innovations that are possible and promising for use in restoration and useful for communities.
– Artem Bezuglyy, Director of the State Enterprise “National Institute for Infrastructure Development”, spoke about how to accelerate innovation in construction. Important is the use of active communication; improvement of normative regulation – creation of an adequate regulatory framework for the introduction of innovations (building standards, harmonization of EN, etc.), improvement of the pricing system in construction; scientific and technical support for the introduction of innovations at the stage of design and execution of construction works.
– When discussing modern development, analytics and realities under war conditions were presented, in particular, actual real estate statistics. For example, the pace of construction has decreased and this also affects the operating time, and the geographical focus has shifted to the western regions. Also, the demand for warehouse space is now increasing, and developers are gradually expanding into this market.
– Architects presented their own cases ready for implementation and experience of realization of rehabilitation projects. Also Olga Sidorchuk, Chairman of the CCU Committee on Regulatory and Legislative Activities, attorney, lawyer in the field of construction and real estate, head of SEMPRA LAW, and Mikhail Sapon, Chief Architect of Irpen, presented a practical case of restoration step by step – from the moment of obtaining city planning conditions to obtaining a building permit.
– During RECOVERY CONSTRUCTION FORUM UKRAINE was raffled 4 certificates totaling 1 million hryvnias from Caparol Ukraine among territorial communities!
Therefore, the certificates of UAH 250 thousand were given to:
– Borodyanska community
– Chernobayivska community
– Svetlovodska community
– Koptevska community
We are grateful to Caparol Ukraine for supporting the communities!
Forum organizers: Confederation of Builders of Ukraine CSU and International exhibition operator Premier Expo Ukraine.
General Partner: Creator-Bud
Strategic partners: Caparol Ukraine, Würth – Ukraine, Kvertus
Financial partner: Globus Bank
Logistics partner: EURO Forwarding
Logo partners: Penetron Ukraine, Ukrexpertiza Group, Eurobud, Egis in Ukraine, PBF GROUP.
Industry partners: Association of Cities of Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Association of United Territorial Communities, Association of Small Cities of Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, NGO “Mayors Club”, American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, European Business Association, Association of Real Estate Professionals (Realtors) of Ukraine (ASNU), Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, ICC Ukraine, Association “Ukrcement”, Association of Consulting Engineers of Ukraine (AECU), Interstate Guild of Consulting Engineers, CBRE Ukraine
General Information Partner: Interfax-Ukraine
Information partners: Build Portal, ProfBuild, MIND, Property Times, LUN, RED Community, The Page, RBC-Ukraine, IRS, Polsko-Ukraińska Izba Gospodarcza (PUIG), CHAS PERSHIKH, zagorodna. com, TRUE, Address Group, KyivVlada, Stolichnaya Real Estate, Ukraine Communal, NGO “Living Planet”, Public Union “Business for Partnership”, Media Network “Window of Restoration”, Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, Kharkiv National University of Municipal Economy named after Beketov.
LET’S WIN AND REBUILD EVERYTHING!
TOGETHER TO VICTORY!
HOLY UKRAINE!
Open4business is an information partner
Ukraine’s public debt to GDP ratio from 2009 to 2023 (UAH mln)
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
NAEK Energoatom and the American company Westinghouse started the project of KNPP-5 and KNPP-6 construction using AR1000 technology.
The project launch ceremony was held on April 11 at the Khmelnytsky nuclear plant site with the participation of U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko (information is delayed for security reasons).
As Energoatom Acting Chairman Petro Kotin noted at the ceremony, the AR1000 is a proven Reactor III with unique fully passive safety systems, modular standard design, industry-leading performance and maneuverability.
“It is a more advanced and safer technology than the ones we currently operate. It is a new step towards a more modern, reliable and safe energy industry. And it is in Ukraine that Europe’s first power unit based on AR1000 technology will be built. It will be KNPP-5,” Kotin said.
“We are proud that we will join the history that Ukraine is making in the energy sector. We can already say that our cooperation is the wedding of the year,” Patrick Fragman, President and CEO of Westinghouse Electric Company, pointed out.
He emphasized that it is an improved technology with increased efficiency, and the unit itself is compact and lower cost compared to others.
“Here at the KNPP site, we note that the heavy equipment, which takes the longest to manufacture, is now ready, and this will significantly accelerate the construction schedule. Thanks to the assistance of the US government and the fact that the main agreements have been signed, it will be even faster,” he emphasized.
Fragman added that the AR1000 reactor is designed to operate for 60 years, but he said it is likely to be longer.
“These units provide a balancing act. This is a special feature of the American AR1000 technology. Now Russian aggressors are destroying Ukraine’s balancing capacity, and if we already had such a nuclear power unit, we could maneuver it and accordingly perform important functions for the energy system,” Galushchenko stressed.
“This is a project for the next long years. The US is set for fruitful cooperation with Ukraine… We are trying together with the US Congress to support you not only within the framework of armed aggression, but also economically,” Brink emphasized.
As for the sources of financing the project, according to Kotin, the company could provide it on its own, as it has large profits, but the lion’s share of them goes to cover the tariff for electricity for the population (PEP).
“Energoatom spent 128 billion UAH of net profit on the PCO in the previous year. If the company is exempted from the PCO, we will have $3 bln of profit for which we can build the unit. If not, we are talking about loans,” Kotin told reporters after the ceremony.
He added that the construction period of one block is tentatively 4-5 years, and its cost is about $5 billion.
As reported, on December 17, 2023 in Kiev, the head of Energoatom Petro Kotin and Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman signed a contract for the purchase of a reactor unit for Ukraine’s first nuclear power unit based on AP1000 technology.
One of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, Nibulon JV LLC (Mykolaiv), has started the 2024 spring crops sowing campaign, for which it will allocate 38 thou hectares, up 35.7% year-on-year, the grain trader’s press service reported on Facebook.
According to the report, the agricultural division of Nibulon has made adjustments to the structure of the sown areas. Thus, in the 2024 season, the corn and soybean planting areas will be increased, while the sunflower planting areas will be reduced.
“This is due to the price expectations of this year’s grain consignments and the forecast of a better economic result. In total, the company purchased 3,000 sowing units of sunflower, 22,000 of corn, plans to purchase 40 tons of soybeans, and has laid and prepared 500 tons of soybean seeds of its own production for sowing,” Nibulon said.
Due to weather conditions, the sowing campaign has already started in four Nibulon clusters and is underway in Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky and Zhytomyr regions. Given favorable conditions, the company’s farmers expect to finish sowing by mid-May at the rate of 2.0 thousand hectares per day.
Oleg Veselov, Nibulon’s Director of Agricultural Production, noted that there are currently no risks for the 2024 harvest. The company expects the gross harvest of spring crops to be 200 thou tons of corn, 15 thou tons of soybeans, and 25 thou tons of sunflower.
Nibulon JV LLC was established in 1991. Prior to the Russian military invasion, the grain trader had 27 transshipment terminals and crop reception complexes, a one-time storage capacity of 2.25 million tons of agricultural products, a fleet of 83 vessels (including 23 tugs), and owned the Mykolaiv Shipyard.
“Before the war, Nibulon cultivated 82 thousand hectares of land in 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries. In 2021, the grain trader exported the highest ever 5.64 million tons of agricultural products, reaching record volumes of supplies to foreign markets in August – 0.7 million tons, in the fourth quarter – 1.88 million tons, and in the second half of the year – 3.71 million tons.
Nibulon’s losses due to Russia’s full-scale military invasion in 2022 exceeded $416 million.
Currently, the grain trader is operating at 32% of capacity, has created a special unit to clear agricultural land of mines, and was forced to move its headquarters from Mykolaiv to Kyiv.
Internal and external debt of Ukraine in 2010-2024
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
Global stainless steel production in 2023 increased by 4.6% compared to 2022 to 58.444 million tonnes, while production declined in all major regions except China, according to a press release from the World Stainless Association (formerly the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF)).
According to the information, in Europe last year, stainless steel production decreased by 6.2% to 5.902 million tons by 2022, and in the United States – by 9.6% to 1.824 million tons.
In Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production decreased by 7.2% to 6.880 million tons, while in China it increased by 12.6% to 36.676 million tons.
Other regions (Brazil, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Indonesia) recorded a 5.2% decline in production to 7.163 million tons.
As reported, global stainless steel production in 2022 decreased by 5.2% to 55.255 million tons. At the same time, in Europe in 2022, production decreased by 12.4% to 6.294 million tons, and in the United States – by 14.8% to 2.017 million tons. In Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production decreased by 4.9% to 7.411 million tons, while in China it fell by 2% to 31.975 million tons.
Other regions recorded a 9.1% decline in production to 7.557 million tons.