The State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) does not intend to stop road works during the quarantine due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread.
“Ukravtodor supports government initiatives to prevent COVID-19 spread in Ukraine. Therefore, we strongly recommend that everyone who can work remotely take this opportunity. At the same time, we would like to say that the deceleration of road works season is not yet expected. All construction and repair work continues as usual,” the agency said in a statement posted on its website.
Ukravtodor said that the agency insists that contractors put into place the necessary arrangements for the safe work of employees, in particular, conduct an information campaign on virus diseases prevention, regularly monitor the employees’ state of health, and also make disinfectants available.
The state-owned enterprise Novator (Khmelnytsky), which is part of Ukroboronprom group of companies, urgently reoriented production and launched the sewing of medical gauze masks for the needs of the state concern, the press service of Ukroboronprom has said.
According to the statement, the company is also preparing to launch production of the first domestic valve respirators FFP3. A new production line is being installed at the enterprise, which will produce up to three million of this special equipment every month.
The enterprise plans to produce 100,000 reusable gauze masks, of which 13,500 have already been sewn and handed over to employees of the Khmelnytsky enterprise (ten masks for one employee and his or her family), some 3,000 masks were transferred to the Krasyliv Aggregate Plant. Requests for the supply of gauze masks to other enterprises of Ukroboronprom are being considered.
In addition, by decision of the trade union committee, the enterprise plans to create a reserve of 30,000 gauze masks.
The company transferred 500 masks to the Department of Labor and Social Protection of Khmelnytsky, some 100 to the bank’s office, which services the Novator enterprise.
The enterprise plans to install a line for sterilization of gauze masks, as well as to strengthen the production of ultraviolet devices, which can safely disinfect air and surfaces in large rooms and in crowded places.
In addition, Director General of Ukroboronprom Aivaras Abromavičius said that Zorya-Mashproekt (Mykolaiv) plans to produce a disinfection solution, and about a dozen more enterprises sew medical masks for their employees.
The private port operator Ascet Shipping increased the grain handling in Berdiansk seaport to 1.134 million tonnes in 2019, which is 62% more than in 2018 (700,349 tonnes).
According to the company’s press service reported on Tuesday, March 17, the volume of handling by Ascet Shipping in Berdiansk seaport has already exceeded 3 million tonnes since it has been working as a port operator (2016).
According to the company’s report, the port operator handled 1.134 million tonnes of cargo, servicing 161 vessels in 2019.
“In the status of a port operator in Berdiansk seaport, Ascet Shipping invested about $4.3 million of its own funds in the development of infrastructure providing grain export through the berths of Berdiansk port. In particular, a port warehouse complex with a capacity of about 100,000 tonnes, a convoy, and modern laboratories were created. The port’s berths were equipped with new technological handling equipment, which allows loading five grain vessels at the port’s berths at the same time,” the company said.
According to the statement, Ascet Shipping has created more than 300 jobs over three and a half years of work in the status of a port operator.
Ascet Shipping is included in top 30 of the largest stevedoring companies in Ukraine and is the largest port operator of Berdiansk seaport.
The Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection of Ukraine has included in the forecast balance of electricity generation in the Integrated Power System (IPS) of Ukraine for 2020 the growth of electricity imports at twice compared to the actual indicator of 2019, to 5.615 billion kWh.
According to the updated balance posted on the ministry’s website, electricity exports are also expected to grow by 30%, to 8.455 billion kWh.
The electricity generation will decrease by 1.2% compared with the actual indicators of 2019, to 152.105 billion kWh. In particular, nuclear power plants expect to reach 80.639 billion kWh of electricity generation (2.9% less compared to 2019), thermal power plants 42.129 billion kWh (6.2% less), combined heat and power plants and cogeneration plants 11.064 billion kWh (1.8% more), all hydroelectric power stations 5.088 billion (22% less), pumped storage plants 1.258 billion kWh (6.6% less), block stations 1.643 billion kWh (7% less), and alternative energy sources 10.284 billion kWh (85.6% more).
Thus, according to forecasts, the share of nuclear power plants of the structure of electricity generation in 2020 will be 53.02% (53.91% at the end of 2019), thermal power plants some 27.7% (29.17%), combined heat and power plants and cogeneration plants some 7.27% (7.06%), hydroelectric power stations some 3.35% (4.24%), pumped storage plants some 0.83% (0.87%), block stations some 1.08% (1.15%), and alternative energy sources some 6.8% (3.6%).
Electricity consumption in the country is expected to reach 147.517 billion kWh in 2020, which is 1.8% less compared to the actual indicators of 2019.
Electricity consumption of pumped storage plants in the pump mode is predicted to be 1.752 billion kWh (1.834 billion kWh in 2019).
The Nova Poshta group of companies has canceled the mail storage fee for clients from March 18, 2020 until the end of the quarantine on April 3, according to a statement on its website. “Nova Poshta will store clients’ packages free of charge until the end of the quarantine. We understand that in the current situation our clients may be unable to collect their mail timely,” the company said.
Nova Poshta continues to work and provide services in full.
“The entire chain of our delivery services works – offices, terminals, couriers, automated parcel lockers. Cargo transportation is carried out without restrictions. In addition, international delivery service operates in an ordinary course,” the company said.
All offices of Nova Poshta are supplied with disinfectors, protective masks and gloves. All surfaces in offices are regularly cleaned with disinfectants.
“We control the distance in queues and prevent gathering of crowds of people. Our employees undergo primary examination and are not admitted to work if they feel worse,” Nova Poshta said.
As reported, Nova Poshta temporarily closed offices in shopping and entertainment centers in several cities due to quarantine measures and continues to work in a normal mode.
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of March 18
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
