Ukraine could attract up to €4 billion in private investment and create more than 17,000 jobs thanks to innovative construction, which includes the use of geopolymers, hempcrete, and 3D printing, according to a report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, “Rebuilding Ukraine: Opportunities for Investment in Innovative and Sustainable Construction.”
“As of the end of 2024, 13% of the total housing stock had already been damaged or destroyed, and a significant part of the country’s infrastructure had been affected in all major sectors (e.g., energy, transport, telecommunications, industry, social sector). The total investment needs for restoration and reconstruction were estimated at over $0.5 trillion over a decade, with housing accounting for the largest share,” the report says.
The IFC emphasizes that reconstruction creates an opportunity to build housing in a better and more efficient way, and the study identifies promising building materials and technologies that can help achieve this and build hundreds of millions of square meters of new, energy-efficient construction.
At the same time, the authors of the document note that private investment in innovative construction is hampered by a number of obstacles, including regulatory barriers, limited access to financing, low levels of education in the industry, and a shortage of skilled workers.
According to the study, Ukraine needs additional production capacity: 8 million tons of geopolymers, with an estimated investment of $1.36 billion, 6 million square meters of precast reinforced concrete – $1.5 billion, 0.7 million tons of basalt wool – $420 million, 0.1 million tons of basalt reinforcement – $420 million.
This list also includes the creation of capacity for the production of 0.5 million tons of hemp concrete, which requires $20 million in investment, 1 million cubic meters of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) – $100 million, 3D printing for construction – $50 million, and special glazing for 8 million square meters – $72 million.
3D PRINTING, geopolymer, innovative construction, INVESTMENT
