PrJSC Ukrainian Graphite (Ukrgraphite, Zaporizhzhya) is trying to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency by purchasing and installing modern equipment.
According to the interim report of the company’s management, the gradual improvement of manufacturing technologies to improve the quality characteristics of carbon graphite products has made it possible to produce products that are competitive and in demand on the global market.
Nevertheless, over the past three years, there has been a reduction in production and partial shutdown of steel, electric steel and ferroalloy producers in Ukraine that are consumers of Ukrgraphite’s products. Therefore, the volume of sales to the foreign and domestic markets decreased compared to the previous years.
“In order to optimize risks, we are setting up new logistics routes that allow us to plan timely delivery of raw materials and consumables to the plant and finished products to end consumers. One of the challenges is the shortage of skilled workers and engineers involved in the continuous cycle of metallurgical production. This is primarily due to the mobilization of employees, women with children going abroad and internal migration in the country,” the management report states.
Nevertheless, the company continues to operate, accept orders, manufacture products, upgrade production facilities, pay taxes and provide resources for Ukraine’s recovery.
At the same time, it is specified that today the production of products is carried out in the context of the energy crisis, which requires additional measures to improve energy efficiency for the smooth operation of the enterprise. The main areas of work in 2024 include the reconstruction of a commercial natural gas metering unit and internal gas supply networks at the enterprise (to reduce additional charges during low gas consumption). Engineering works were completed and the project was agreed with Zaporizhgaz JSC, civil defense and EIA projects were developed, and in May-July, the company purchased inventory for installation works, including imported equipment.
In August 2014, installation works were started; a steam boiler with a nominal steam capacity of 5 tons per hour was purchased and installed to ensure steam generation in the required quantity for the production of pressed products. Commissioning of the boiler will allow saving up to 40% of gas when the boiler house operates in autonomous mode. All equipment was installed, connected to the existing power supply networks and put into pilot operation.
The company also reconstructed the Graphite substation, installing and connecting new voltage and current transformers.
“Ukrgraphit’s management is taking all the necessary measures to maintain the stability and development of the company in the current conditions in the country and the economy. (…) The main important events, risks and uncertainties that occurred during the reporting period and affected the financial statements are: uncertainty about the timing of the end of the special martial law regime; disruption of production and logistics routes, destruction of infrastructure, limited inventories and import and export opportunities; energy crisis; staff shortages; economic and legal risks; significant currency appreciation, etc.”, the report summarizes.
As reported, Ukrgraphite ended the first nine months of 2024 with a net loss of UAH 118.074 million, while in the same period of 2023 it made a net profit of UAH 128.230 million. Net income for the period decreased by 18.4% to UAH 1 billion 79.194 million. As of the end of September this year, the company’s retained earnings amounted to UAH 3 billion 755.517 million.
“In 2023, Ukrgraphite increased its net profit by 2.34 times compared to 2022 to UAH 122.941 million, and net income by 1.2% to UAH 1 billion 564.656 million.
“Ukrgraphite is Ukraine’s leading producer of graphitized electrodes for electric steel-making, ore-thermal and other types of electric furnaces, commercial carbon masses for Soderberg electrodes, and carbon-based lining materials for metallurgical, machine-building, chemical and other industries.
According to the National Depository of Ukraine (NDU) as of the second quarter of 2024, Intergraphite Holdings Company Limited (Bermuda) owns 23.9841% of the company, and C6 Safe Group Limited (Cyprus) owns 72.0394%.
The authorized capital of the company is UAH 233.959 million, with a par value of UAH 3.35 per share.
Airlines increased passenger traffic by 10.4% in 2024, setting a record, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Compared to the level of pre-pandemic 2019, the figure increased by 3.8%. Aircraft load factor increased to 83.5%, which is also a record, compared to 82.2% a year earlier.
Last year, airlines increased passenger traffic on international flights by 13.6% compared to 2023, and on domestic flights by 5.7%. “The year 2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel.
The number of trips reached record levels on both domestic and international routes,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh, quoted in the report. – “The growth of aviation impacts societies and economies at all levels through jobs, market development, trade, innovation, research and more.
“Looking ahead to 2025, there is every indication that travel demand will continue to grow, albeit at a more moderate pace of 8%, which is more in line with historical averages,” he added.
In 2024, European airlines increased passenger traffic on international flights by 9.7%, while flight load factor rose by 0.4 percentage points to 84.1%.
In North America, the first indicator grew by 6.8%, while the second decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 84.2%.
In the Asia-Pacific region, passenger traffic jumped by 26%, and flight load factor rose by 0.8 percentage points to 83.8%. Traffic on domestic airlines in China grew by 12.3%, in India by 6%, in Brazil by 4.6%, and in the US by 3.7%.
The cargo turnover of global airlines in 2024 increased by 11.3% and exceeded the previous maximum recorded in 2021, IATA said in a statement.
This was driven, in particular, by a 3.6% increase in global trade in goods. IATA represents 340 airlines from around the world, accounting for more than 80% of global air traffic.
The Ministry of Health continues to impede the entry of private clinics into the medical guarantees program and creates discriminatory conditions for their participation in the single medical space.
This opinion was expressed by members of the Association of Private Medical Institutions (APMI) at a press conference organized jointly with Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.
“We have tried many times to reach a dialogue with the relevant ministry, but, unfortunately, we have been ignored in all formats – official, unofficial, absolutely in all. Therefore, we were forced to send an open letter. It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Health demonstrates its intention to continue ignoring us and our problems. This is evidenced, in particular, by the regulatory documents approved after our appeal,” said Olena Yeshchenko, director of Smart Medical Septeg, chairman of the APMZ.
She explained that the regulations put private clinics in a non-competitive position with state or municipal healthcare facilities. “They create artificial obstacles aimed at removing large private providers, healthcare providers from the system, which ultimately leads to unnecessary spending of public funds and their misuse,” she said.
According to Ms. Yeshchenko, these are the requirements of the Primary Healthcare Program 2025, which relate, in particular, to the requirements for laboratory tests, as well as the introduction of reduction coefficients for private clinics when paying for medical services provided under the Primary Healthcare Program, as well as requirements that make it impossible to include private institutions in a capable network, etc.
She emphasized that the issue of booking medical staff is becoming especially relevant for private clinics. “We are talking about a number of very serious discriminatory issues, for example, when it comes to booking medical staff. Even after our appeal, the government approved a 100% quota for booking medical staff for state and municipal institutions, but this is not provided for private institutions, although many private clinics continue to operate and provide medical care to the military and the wounded at their own expense,” she said.
“Thus, in our opinion, a rather corrupt component is being implemented, which contributes to the outflow of medical workers from private medicine to state and municipal institutions,” emphasized Yeshchenko.
According to her, there is currently a problem of communication on this issue between the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Health. “In fact, the two ministries are trying to play football with each other,” she said.
For her part, Oleksandra Mashkevych, medical director of Dobrobut Medical Network, noted that Dobrobut, which is included in the list of critical infrastructure facilities, is also deprived of the possibility of booking.
“Dobrobut Medical Network is a critical infrastructure facility. As far as I know, there are only 11 healthcare facilities classified as critical infrastructure facilities. And I have a question: why we are not included in the resolution on booking 100% of doctors. We will honestly say that our healthcare workers are likely to move to state-owned and municipal facilities, because there is an opportunity to book there,” she said.
As reported, at the end of December last year, the APMH in an open letter to government agencies stated that the Ministry of Health violates the rights of citizens and prevents private institutions from entering the single medical space and the PMG.
Bereznitsky, CLINIC, Havrychenko, MEDICINE, Ministry of Health, Skavronsky, URAKIN, Yeshchenko, Афанасьєва, Зукін, МАШКЕВИЧ
The “Hope and Unity” Charitable Foundation continues to actively support the Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Thanks to caring Ukrainians and the support of the Foundation’s partners, we have managed to raise significant funds for the purchase of necessary equipment, medicines and materials.
This week, a modern lung ventilator was delivered to the hospital, which will help save the lives of the youngest patients. In addition, the foundation provided the oncology department with new beds and medical instruments. A recreation room with games and educational materials was organized for children undergoing long-term treatment.
“We understand how important the atmosphere in which children are treated is for them,” says PIB, founder of the ‘Hope and Unity’ Foundation. – “That is why we strive to create the most comfortable conditions for young patients and their parents at Okhmatdyt.
The “Hope and Unity” Foundation calls on all those who care to join the charitable cause and support the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Every hryvnia, every little thing matters and can save a child’s life.
How to help:
Together we can create a future for every child!
CHARITY, CHILDREN, DISEASE, foundation, HELP, Hope and Unity, SUPPORT, ОХМАТДИТ
Unemployment in the euro zone in December last year amounted to 6.3% compared to the all-time low of 6.2% a month earlier, the statistical office of the European Union said. Analysts had also expected 6.3%, according to Trading Economics. The November level, meanwhile, was revised up from 6.3%. By comparison, unemployment was 6.5% in December 2023.
The number of unemployed in the region rose by 96,000 in December from the previous month to a three-month high of 10.83 million.
The unemployment rate among young people (population under 25) fell to 14.8% from 14.9%.
The lowest unemployment rate among the largest eurozone countries was recorded in Germany (3.4%, the same as a month earlier), the highest – in Spain (10.6% vs. 10.7% in November). In France, unemployment in December increased by 0.1 percentage points and reached 7.8%, in Italy – increased by 0.3 p.p. to 6.2%.
In the European Union as a whole, unemployment stood at 5.9% last month, up from 5.8% in November. It stood at 6% in December 2023.
Earlier, the Experts Club think tank and Maxim Urakin released a video analysis on the state of the economy and debt in the world, see more on the YouTube channel:
In 2024, Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group, including its associates and joint ventures, increased its payments to the budgets of all levels in Ukraine by 36% compared to 2023, to UAH 19.8 billion.
According to the company’s press release on Thursday, Metinvest has continued to support the country’s economy for almost three years of full-scale war.
The largest payment in terms of volume is the subsoil use fee, which has more than doubled year-on-year to UAH 5 billion. The second largest was the unified social tax of UAH 3.7 billion, up 13%. The top three largest payments include UAH 3.4 billion in personal income tax, which is 11% higher than in 2023.
In addition, Metinvest’s Ukrainian enterprises paid UAH 2.6 billion in corporate income tax last year, which is 20% less than in the previous year. Land payments increased by 6% year-on-year to UAH 1.3 billion, and environmental tax by 18% to UAH 717 million.
“The war increases the level of responsibility of business to the army, the economy and every Ukrainian. Despite all the challenges, we have not only maintained stability but also managed to reach the tax payment level of 2022, when we had a certain pre-war safety margin. This demonstrates our ability to adapt and find new opportunities. “Metinvest remains one of the largest taxpayers and private donors to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and we continue to support the country in these difficult times,” said Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest.
As reported, Metinvest increased its tax payments by 38% to UAH 15.2 billion in the first nine months of 2024. In the first half of 2024, the Group increased its tax payments by one and a half times to UAH 10 billion. In total, in 2023, the company paid UAH 14.6 billion to the state budget.
“Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of steel and mining companies. The group’s enterprises are mainly located in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions. The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage it.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
