The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide investment up to EUR 149 million to Ukrenergo National Energy Company to acquire up to 26 new transformers and carry out the automation and upgrade of 12 high-voltage substations. “The investment will help Ukrenergo upgrade its key transmission infrastructure required for the synchronization with the European electricity networks. It will also assist Ukraine in aligning its legal framework and operational practices with the EU Third Energy Package,” reads an EBRD press release.
According to the bank, Ukrenergo will use the 15-year sovereign-guaranteed loan to acquire up to 26 new transformers and carry out the automation and upgrade of 12 high-voltage substations in key locations of the Ukrainian transmission network. The loan will also contribute to the annual reduction of CO2 emissions by 20,500 tonnes.
Besides, the investment will strengthen Ukrenergo’s capacity to accommodate the growing share of renewables in the Ukrainian grid, with an increasing share of wind and solar power. “A flexible, smart grid will be key to the sustainable electricity sector of the future,” said the report.
The EBRD financing is also promoting the commercialization and institutional development of Ukrenergo through the implementation of a comprehensive Corporate Governance Action Plan and robust procurement standards.
As reported, the total cost of Ukrenergo modernization project is EUR 198.2 million, including EUR 49.2 million of own funds of Ukrenergo and EUR 149 million to be provided by the EBRD.
The EBRD is the largest international financial investor in Ukraine. Since the start of its operations in the country in 1993, the Bank has made a cumulative commitment of almost €13.6 billion through 432 projects in the country.
The hryvnia to U.S. dollar exchange rate in the interbank foreign exchange market on July 31 strengthened to UAH 24.9845/$1 from UAH 25.0919/$1. The deputy chairman of the board of First Investment Bank, Vladyslav Kravets, told Interfax-Ukraine that the exchange rate in the interbank market on July 31 started with UAH 24.95-24.98/$1, and by the middle of trading it was UAH 25.075-25.115 per $1.
According to him, the steady trend to the hryvnia exchange rate strengthening due to the growth of non-residents’ investments in hryvnia-denominated government domestic loan bonds will continue in the near future.
“The seasonal growth in foreign currency earnings from agricultural exports has not gone beyond the figures that were last year or the year before, therefore the main driver for the current strengthening of the hryvnia exchange rate is the inflow of foreign investment in hryvnia-denominated government bonds. In the near future, the hryvnia exchange rate will continue to strengthen. The expected mitigation of the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve System and the European Central Bank, in response to a slowdown in economic growth, will stimulate the flow of investor funds to emerging markets, including Ukraine. If the NBU does not actively absorb the surplus of currency from the market to reserves, the hryvnia exchange rate will soon aim at around UAH 24/$1,” the banker explained.
Since the beginning of the year, the hryvnia exchange rate has strengthened by almost 10%, in particular by almost 4% over the last ten days.
The last time the hryvnia to U.S. dollar exchange rate was below UAH 25/$1 on August 12, 2016.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) could issue up to $80 million to Kernel, one of the largest Ukrainian agricultural groups, within the framework of a syndicated loan to finance working capital, which is associated with the procurement, storage, transportation and sale of grains for export.
According to the information on the bank’s website, the total cost of the project is $300 million (consists of the existing and increased working capital financing).
The decision on the project can be made on September 4, 2019. Now the project is at the concept review stage.
“The provision of up to $40 million in the form of participation in a syndicated senior secured revolving credit facility to finance working capital needs of Kernel Group. Working capital financing is associated with the procurement, storage, processing, transportation of oilseeds and vegetable oil products, and export sale,” the report on the website says.
The cost of the entire project is estimated at $390 million.
The project will be considered on September 4 of the current year. It is now at the study stage.
Kernel is the world’s largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, a leading manufacturer and supplier of agricultural products from the Black Sea region.
National bank of ukraine’s official rates as of 31/07/19
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of july 31
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
Sopharma AD pharmaceutical company in January-June 2019 increased sales in Ukraine by 35% compared to the same period in 2018.
The company reported that, in general, in the first half of 2019, revenue from the sales to European countries rose by 13% compared with the first half of 2018.
The main reasons for sales growth in Europe are higher sales in Ukraine, as well as in Russia, where sales in January-June grew by 7%.
As reported, in 2014 Sopharma reduced sales in Ukraine by 37%, but in 2017 the company expressed confidence in the resumption of sales growth in Ukraine.
In Ukraine, Sopharma AD has been controlling PJSC Vitamins since January 2008, and in August 2012 it established the subsidiary Sopharma Ukraine LLC (Kyiv) to optimize trading business.
