Ukrainian State Forest Agency logges 3.8 mln cubic meters of wood in Q1 2019
KYIV. April 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Enterprises of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine logged 3.8 million cubic meters of wood in the first quarter of 2019, which is 7.8% less year-over-year.
The agency said in a press release on Thursday that total round wood sales in January-March 2019 on the domestic market accounted for 2.9 million cubic meters. No cubic meter of wood was sold on the foreign market.
Forest enterprises over the period saw UAH 3.9 billion of net sales revenue, which is 3% less than a year ago. One of the main reasons for the decline in the indicator is a fall in the demand on the domestic market.
As of April 1, 2019, a total of 1.2 million cubic meters of ending stocks were at warehouses of forest enterprises, which is 32% more compared with ending stocks as of early 2018.
As reported, the enterprises of the agency logged 16.5 mcm of wood (a rise of 3.7% compared with 2017). The state forest agency sold 13.7 mcm of round wood to the domestic market (a rise of 9%).
The total area of forest areas in Ukraine is almost 10.4 million hectares, the forest cover of Ukraine is 15.9%. Some 7.6 million hectares of forests (73% of the forest fund of Ukraine) are subordinate to the State Forest Resources Agency.
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
Ukrainian Parliament passes law on green auctions for investors in green energy
KYIV. April 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Verkhovna Rada at a plenary session on Thursday passed bill No. 8449-d on green auctions for investors in renewable energy. A total of 251 lawmakers baked the bill amending some Ukrainian laws regarding ensuring competitive conditions for production of electricity from alternative energy facilities.
The document proposes the introduction of auctions from 2020 and the obligatory participation for investors in solar power plants with a capacity of more than 1 MW and wind farms with a capacity of more than 5 MW (or one turbine).
The pilot auction should be held no later than December 31, 2019, and the ProZorro electronic trading system is proposed to be the platform for the auctions. The period of granting a guaranteed tariff for transmission of electricity by the winner of the auction is 20 years.
The project assumes that the size of quotas to be put up for auction, according to the Cabinet of Ministers, is approved by the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry. During the first three years it is planned to provide wind farms and solar power plants with 30% of quotas, after this period – at least 15%.
Responsibility of producers of renewable energy facilities for misbalances is proposed to be introduced after the intra-day market is recognized as liquid, but no later than 2024.
It is proposed to reduce the current feed-in tariff for solar power plants in 2020 by 25%, and in 2021-2023 – by 2.5% annually.
For wind farms with a capacity of more than 2 MW, the tariff is proposed to be reduced in 2020 by 10% without further annual reductions.
The tariff for energy generated from biomass and biogas is proposed to be maintained at the current level.
For household solar power plants, the tariff is planned to be reduced by 10% from 2020 (currently it is EUR 0.18 per kWh). Before the start of the voting, the deputies returned the amendment, which introduces the condition for its receipt, the installation of a solar power plant up to 50 kW on roofs, facades of buildings and other hard-wall facilities.
On April, 27, 28 and 29 in Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus («Kyivan Rus Park ») there will be a grandiose celebration of Easter with the dishes consecration and a show-program. And every day, beginning from April, 30 till May, 5 and on May, 9 – 12 the continuation of the bright rest with traditional Slavic amusements, performances and thrilling medieval entertainments, as well as tasty dishes in the Tavern and a picnic on fresh air will be waiting for the guests.
The entry ticket price:
• for pensioners and students – 150 UAH.,
• for schoolchildren – 60 UAH.,
• for preschool children – for free,
• a full adult ticket:
• April, 27, 28, 29 – 250 UAH
• April, 30 – 170 UAH
• May, 1 мая – 200 UAH
• May,2, 3, 4, 5 – 170 UAH
• May,9 – 200 UAH
• May,10 – 200 UAH
• May,11, 12 – 170 UAH
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 13:30.
Ancient Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park» is located in Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, the vill. Kopachiv.
Route taxis leave from Kyiv from the «Vydybitchi» metro station.
Details on the website www.parkkyivrus.com
The Interfax subscribers can save money with the “openbusiness-20” promo code for a 20%-discount for a full price adult ticket to the Principality of Kyivan Rus:
– by previous order by tel.: +38 044 461-99-37, +38 050 385-20-35
– or at the cash desk at the entrance to the «Kyivan Rus Park».
Ukraine last year cut honey export by 27%, to 49,500 tonnes and lost positions in the global rating list of honey exporters, national consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Ann Burka has said.
“The last 2018 year can be called a watershed year for the Ukrainian honey market. In fact, until last year, the industry, which showed annual growth in honey exports, faced a series of challenges in 2018. The search for solutions to some of them continues to this day. On one side, vast amounts of killed bees, affecting all regions, and on the other side, price battles that unfolded in the second half of the year, which “contributed” to a 27% reduction in honey exports from Ukraine and led to a loss of market share in several European countries and the United States,” she wrote on her page in the Facebook social network.
According to the FAO consultant, as a result, Ukraine dropped in the world ranking of exporters of these products from third place in 2017 (share 10%) to fifth place with a share of 7% in 2018.
“And while Ukraine was losing its position in the foreign market, competitors were actively increasing their export volumes, occupying a vacant niche. Export volumes from India in 2018 increased 10% compared with 2017, Mexico doubled, Argentina also saw growth,” Burka said.
She added that in general, the volume of globla trade in honey in 2018 decreased 3% in kind and 7% in value, reaching 689,000 tonnes, or $2.23 billion.
“Icing on the cake: according to ITC estimates, the unrealized export potential of honey on a global scale is estimated at $1.6 billion, so, Ukraine has room to grow,” the FAO consultant said.
