Ferrexpo plc, a mining company with its main assets in Ukraine, has announced the resumption of pellet production at Poltava Mining and Processing Plant (PGZK, Gorishni Plavni, Poltava region) after a temporary suspension of operations on January 20 due to a power outage caused by shelling of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Following the temporary suspension of operations announced on January 20, 2026, improvements in the availability and prices of domestic and imported electricity have enabled the resumption of production at PGZK. Currently, one pellet production line is in operation. The group uses its own fleet of railcars to export products to customers in Eastern and Central Europe,” the company said in a statement on Monday.
Commenting on the resumption of production, interim CEO Lucio Genovese noted that with the onset of spring, the group was able to resume operations, produce and export high-quality iron ore products.
“Following the intense attacks on Ukraine’s power generation and transmission infrastructure, we are grateful for the hard work across the country that has enabled the rapid completion of repairs. I am also grateful to my colleagues who have worked tirelessly to restore one of the pelletizing lines. This once again demonstrates our ability to be flexible and agile in very challenging conditions,” said the CEO.
In addition, Ferrexpo plc also provided updated corporate information regarding its Swiss subsidiary Ferrexpo AG (FAG).
According to this information, in the course of its normal business, FAG has a number of banking relationships, including with MBaer Merchant Bank AG (MBaer), which recently had its license revoked and was ordered into liquidation by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
It is specified that MBaer was used by the group to make commercial payments outside Ukraine. FAG has approximately $3 million in MBaer, and this amount is part of the group’s net cash resources of approximately $30 million as of February 27, 2026. According to a public statement by MBaer’s liquidators, sufficient assets are available to fully satisfy all customers and creditors, so FAG currently expects a full return of its deposit in MBaer, although the timing of when this will be possible is currently unknown.
However, it is noted that the revocation of MBaer’s license does not affect FAG’s or the group’s relationship with its other banking partners and is not expected to have a material impact on the group’s operating subsidiaries in Ukraine. Despite the liquidation of MBaer, the company has made certain payments outside Ukraine, although its ability to do so is limited.
“Management is actively exploring alternative banking options so that FAG can continue to make commercial payments on behalf of the group, but these negotiations are complicated and have historically been complicated by issues related to one of the beneficiaries of The Minco Trust, which owns Fevamotinico S.a.r.l. If the group is unable to arrange alternative banking arrangements outside Ukraine, there is a risk of significant negative consequences for it,” the statement concludes.
As reported, Ferrexpo suspended production and sent some of its employees on leave due to a power supply failure at its enterprises as a result of shelling of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on January 20.
Ferrexpo owns 100% of Yeryistovsky GZK LLC, 99.9% of Bilanovsky GZK LLC, and 100% of Poltavsky GZK PJSC.
