The volume of construction work performed in Ukraine in March 2019 increased by 29.7% compared with March 2018, while the indicator in February 2019 compared with February 2018 grew by 19.4%, according to statistics.
The State Statistics Service said that the data are given excluding the occupied territory of Crimea and the temporarily uncontrolled territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
According to the agency, the volume of construction work performed in March 2019 increased by 3% compared with February 2019.
According to the report, in March 2019 compared with March 2018 the volume of construction work decreased in residential construction – by 14.9%.
Nonresidential construction in March 2019 rose by 47.2% and in engineering – by 54.1%.
In March 2019 compared with February 2019, the volume of residential construction grew by 15%, nonresidential construction by 32.1%, and in engineering it grew by 37.7%.
Production of natural gas in Ukraine in January-April 2019 increased 3.6% or by 245.1 million cubic meters (mcm) year-over-year, to 7.016 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to a preliminary report of JSC Ukrtransgaz. According to the calculations of Interfax-Ukraine, gas production by JSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia amounted to 5.14 bcm (2.7% more from January-April 2018), PJSC Ukrnafta to 382.9 mcm (11.2% more), other companies to 1.493 bcm (5% up).
In April 2019, gas production amounted to 1.741 bcm (4.3% up from April 2018), in particular production by Ukrgazvydobuvannia amounted to 1.272 bcm (2.5% more), Ukrnafta to 93.7 mcm (12.9% up), and other companies to 375.9 mcm (8.5% up).
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) intends to consider granting a loan in the amount of EUR7 million to Energopark Yavoriv LLC for the construction of the second stage of Yavoriv solar power plant with a capacity of 36 MW.
According to the website of the bank, a meeting of the board of directors on the issue of the loan is scheduled for June 5.
“The project is developed under the EBRD Ukraine Sustainable Energy Lending Facility III (USELF III), a EUR 250 million framework to support renewable energy in Ukraine,” the report reads.
“The project consists of the development, construction and operation of the second phase for 36MWp of a 72MWp solar PV project located near the town of Ternovytsia in Lviv region,” it says.
Eco-Optima manages a park of solar plants and wind power plants, some of which are built using EBRD loan funds. The company commissioned two phases of a wind plant of 34 MW in Stary Sambir in Lviv region. The project was implemented with the funds from the EBRD and the World Bank’s Clean Technology Fund.
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has permitted DTEK Oil & Gas to acquire controlling stakes in Kyivoblenergo and Odesaoblenergo belonged to VS Energy Group, the press service of the committee has reported, referring to the decision made on Thursday.
“Today the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine granted permission to DTEK Oil & Gas to acquire shares of Kyivoblenergo and Odesaoblenergo under the strict condition of fulfilling obligations that neutralize the possible negative impact on electricity markets,” the committee said.
In the beginning of 2019, DTEK announced its intention to build up 68.2949% of the shares in Odesaoblenergo and 93.9978% in Kyivoblenergo owned by the VS Energy Group. Oil and gas companies of DTEK Oil & Gas Group (Ukraine) and NGR B.V. (the Netherlands) on January 3, 2019 entered into contracts for the sale of shares in these companies.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has improved the forecast for forex reserves as of late 2019 from $20.6 billion to $21.2 billion, from $21.4 billion to $21.9 billion as of late 2020 and from $21.4 billion to $21.8 billion as of late 2021. According to data released by the central bank on Thursday, the assessment of the deficit in the consolidated balance of payments for 2019 has also been improved from $1.1 billion to $0.3 billion, while for 2020-2021 it is confirmed at the level of $0.1 billion and $0.7 billion respectively.
At the same time, the NBU worsened the forecast of the current account deficit: for the current year – from $4.5 billion to $4.9 billion, for the next year – from $5.6 billion to $5.8 billion, and for 2021 – from $6.2 billion to $6.7 billion
In relation to GDP, the assessment of the current account deficit for 2019 is worsened from 3.1% of GDP to 3.3% of GDP, for 2020 it is confirmed at the level of 3.6% of GDP, and for 2021 it is worsened from 3.9% of GDP to 4% Of GDP.
As reported, at the end of 2018, Ukraine had forex reserves of $20.8 billion, a surplus of the consolidated balance of payments of $2.9 billion and a current account deficit of $4.5 billion or 3.4% of GDP.
Head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli has said he doesn’t see any threats to the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU.
Mingarelli said that he didn’t see any threats, but Ukraine must adhere to its obligations. He said about this at the event of the European business association “New 5 year challenge: Expectations. Hopes. Concerns” on Thursday in response to a question whether he sees any threats to the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU.
