Novus Ukraine LLC has invested UAH 1 billion 360 million in business development in 2023-2024, said Oleksiy Panasenko, Deputy CEO for Operations at NOVUS, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“In total, NOVUS invested UAH 1 billion 360 million in 2023-2024 to expand its network, own logistics center, restore damaged and open 16 new stores, and implement an energy efficiency program. In 2025, we plan to invest in the development of the company, in various formats, despite the war. Our goal is to provide every customer with access to quality products,” he said.
He added that in 2024, 17 new facilities have already been opened, including 14 Mi Market convenience stores in the capital region. In particular, on December 18, Mi Market was opened in the residential complex Respublika with an area of 103.8 square meters, on December 20, the opening of NOVUS in Kyiv at 12 Petropavlivska Street was announced, and two more Mi Markets will open by the end of the year.
“The Mi Market format is highly efficient due to its compactness and focus on everyday needs. We see great prospects for the development of new residential areas and are actively working on an expansion strategy. We are planning to scale this format in densely populated areas, this year we will open two more, in 2025 – another 50 new Mi Market stores,” said Panasenko.
He noted that the Mi Market convenience store format provides for an area of 50 to 400 square meters. Investments in the opening of such a store, including renovation, purchase of equipment and other operating expenses, amount to about UAH 5 million.
The company is also preparing to open two NOVUS stores in the near future. One on Petropavlivska Street on December 20 with a total area of 600 square meters, and one on Sofiiska Borshchahivka in the first half of next year with a total area of over 2 thousand square meters.
“Both of them are equipped with modern energy-efficient equipment for uninterrupted operation and products of our own production,” Panasenko added.
He added that at this stage the company has no plans to expand to other regions.
“Currently, we are strategically focused on developing in the capital region and creating the most comfortable conditions for customers. Our main bet now is on organic growth and opening new stores in Kyiv and the region. We have no detailed plans to expand to other regions. At the same time, we are open to any proposals and are ready to consider new regions if it is economically feasible. It is important for us not just to enter a new market, but to be able to develop and build an effective business in this region,” said Panasenko.
The NOVUS supermarket chain is developed by BT Invest (Lithuania), a company established in 2008 by former Sandora shareholders Raimondas Tumenas and the late Igor Bezzub. As of the end of December, the chain had 115 locations (85 NOVUS, 28 Mi Market convenience stores and two Hapaika discounters).
According to Opendatabot, as of July 2021, the owner of Novus Ukraine with a 100% stake in the authorized capital was Consul Trade House CJSC (Vilnius, Lithuania). The ultimate beneficiaries are Marina Poznyakova, Agne Ruzgienė, and Raimondas Tumenas.
According to the company’s financial results, in 2023, its revenue increased by 47% to UAH 23.6 billion, while its net loss decreased by 87% to UAH 310.7 million.
JSC OTP BANK has signed its first loan agreement with a Ukrainian company to finance distributed generation. Support in the amount of UAH 16.6 million for the purchase of a cogeneration gas piston unit will be provided toAVIS LLC.
“The issue of electricity supply is extremely important for the economy, for business and for every citizen. The Bank has set itself the goal of stimulating the development of the market for energy-independent solutions. We are ready to offer our customers the best deals and favourable conditions that will guarantee uninterrupted operation in the face of electricity shortages,” said Olga Volkova, Director of the Sales Department for Medium and Small Corporate Clients of OTP Bank.
The agreement is a concrete step by the Bank to implement the Memorandum on lending to energy infrastructure restoration projects. The document defines the strategic direction of the credit policy for financing investment energy projects. Assistance is provided for the construction and purchase of solar, wind, biogas, gas turbine and gas piston power plants, industrial batteries, and cogeneration units.
With the financial support of the Bank, a company that produces a wide range of food products will be able to purchase a Jenbacher JMS 320 GS-N.L. gas piston cogeneration unit with a capacity of 1,066 kW. The installation of such a unit will provide the company with maximum independence from the power grid and improve its economic efficiency. The equipment is beneficial because natural gas is an affordable fuel. In addition, it is a good investment in the future, as this modern technology does not have a negative impact on the environment.
As a reminder, on 25 June 2024, JSC OTP BANK and leading banks signed a Memorandum on lending to energy infrastructure restoration projects. Representatives of 17 financial institutions signed the document.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has allocated EUR 3 million to improve the energy efficiency of 18 public buildings in Zaporizhzhia, Kamianske and Lutsk.
“The allocated funds will be used to modernize five kindergartens and three schools in Zaporizhzhia, four kindergartens and three schools in Kamianske, and in Lutsk to modernize three hospitals intended for the treatment of civilians and rehabilitation of military personnel injured during the war,” the EU Delegation to Ukraine reported on its website on Thursday.
It is noted that these funds will help the Ukrainian authorities to continue implementing the EIB’s Municipal Infrastructure Development Program (MIP), which aims to improve public infrastructure in various municipalities.
“After today’s tranche of EUR 3 million, the total amount of funds allocated for the UMIP in 2023 will amount to EUR 11.74 million,” the release states.
It clarified that EUR8.74 million of these funds were previously used to support key municipal projects such as the reclamation of the Hrybovychi landfill and solid waste management in Lviv, the implementation of energy efficiency measures in kindergartens in Sumy, and the improvement of water supply and sewage systems in Lutsk.
According to EIB Vice President Teresa Czerwinska, responsible for the bank’s operations in Ukraine, energy efficiency measures should be prioritized during Ukraine’s current and future large-scale recovery, as they play an important role in strengthening the country’s energy security and independence.
“The EIB is fully committed to supporting the Ukrainian government and cities in these efforts by transferring best practices in reconstruction and modernization to rebuild the Ukrainian economy, reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency in all sectors,” she assured.
In addition, it is indicated that UMIP is a EUR 400 million multi-sectoral investment initiative aimed at supporting public infrastructure projects in medium and large municipalities. UMIP’s objectives include investments in district heating rehabilitation, energy efficiency improvements in buildings, modernization of street lighting, and water, sewerage and solid waste management, among others. The program is implemented by the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. The UMIP is complemented by technical assistance provided through the Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund (EPTATF), managed by the EIB, and the Neighborhood Investment Platform (NIP).
The release specifies that the EIB’s support to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has reached EUR 1.7 billion in financing for urgent repairs to destroyed infrastructure. The EU bank has also provided a EUR4 billion credit line to support the integration of refugees from Ukraine in EU countries.
The World Bank will consider providing EUR 300 million to Ukraine for improving energy efficiency, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko has said. “The good news is that on December 17, the World Bank Board will consider providing EUR 300 million for Ukraine within the framework of the second tranche under the Second Economic Recovery Development Policy Loan for Ukraine. These funds will be used primarily to finance the presidential project Energy Independence,” Svyrydenko wrote on her Facebook page.
The large-scale program of thermal modernization of housing is designed to significantly reduce the energy consumption of Ukrainians and, accordingly, reduce energy costs. Program participants will be able to reduce energy consumption and utility bills by 60%. Already in 2022, it is planned to cover up to 5,000 apartment buildings throughout the country.
The minister of economy also said that at the meeting with World Bank Regional Country Director for Eastern Europe (Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) Arup Banerji key issues of deepening the partnership were discussed.
“We are jointly preparing a systemic document on the areas of cooperation. This is Partnership Strategy for 2022-2026. The focus is on the economic development of Ukraine, macro-financial sustainability, the introduction of e-governance and digitalization, the expansion of export markets and the strengthening of the competitiveness of Ukrainian green technologies,” Svyrydenko said.
It is also expected that the World Bank will implement investment projects in the fields of mechanical engineering, energy, information technology, agriculture and construction.
As the minister of economy said, an important area of cooperation is increasing the competitiveness of foreign trade. The Ministry of Economy is working to legislatively strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Export Credit Agency (ECA). The institution’s activities should contribute to increasing the presence of Ukrainian exporters in foreign markets.
Another priority, according to the minister, is the expansion of public-private partnerships and the overall improvement of the business climate. Cooperation with the World Bank is important for Ukraine not only due to financial support of important projects, but also as expert assistance in the implementation of reforms. Strengthening national economic institutions is the way to strengthen the Ukrainian economy, she said.
The number of households that installed PV panels in April-June 2021 grew by 3,480 units, or 11%, the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving reported on Thursday.
“Today, the 98 MW installed by families is an investment of about EUR 60 million,” the agency said.
According to the agency’s press release, as of July 1, 2021, there are 35,400 families in Ukraine that generate and consume electricity from solar energy, and the total capacity of the PV panel units installed by them has reached 933 MW.
At the same time, the agency said that the indicators of the second quarter of 2020 decreased by half, to 1,541 units (42 MW), while the indicators for the same period in 2019 were 3,045 units (86 MW).
The three leaders in terms of the number of installed PV units include Dnipropetrovsk region (5,706 units with a total capacity of 141 MW), Ternopil region (2,788 units with a total capacity of 79 MW) and Kyiv region (2,718 units with a total capacity of 78 MW).
Ukraine will be able to use loans from international financial organizations attracted by the government to improve energy efficiency through high quality projects, Ima Khrenova-Shimkina, the director of the project on promoting energy efficiency and implementing the EU energy efficiency directive in Ukraine, has said.
“Ukraine has already attracted loans, pays interest on them, has concluded all the necessary international agreements, and our government has fulfilled all its obligations. Projects from cities and regions must now be submitted in order to pour these funds into the Ukrainian economy. But this, unfortunately, is not happening because we do not have enough specialists and well-prepared projects,” she told the Interfax-Ukraine agency during the IV International Coal Conference at DTEK Academy in Kyiv.
At the same time, she pointed out that the funds raised can be used if projects appear that meet all the necessary criteria.
At the same time, the expert expressed hope that this will be facilitated by, in particular, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development and the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine.
As reported, in October of this year, the state energy efficiency agency and the Ministry of Energy signed a memorandum with the German society for international cooperation GIZ, aimed at developing the field of energy efficiency in Ukraine.
Support from the German government and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland is provided to the Ukrainian side within the framework of a new international technical assistance project for promoting energy efficiency and implementing the EU energy efficiency directive in Ukraine, which is being implemented by GIZ. The project is planned to be completed within five years.
Over the past three years, NEFCO (Nordic Environment Finance Corporation, NEFCO) canceled energy efficiency projects in 18 Ukrainian cities due to bureaucratic obstacles, which is approximately 20% of the organization’s investments, and losses from unrealized projects are estimated at about EUR 35 million.
