Integration of European standards, in particular the provisions of EU Regulation 305/2011 on the quality of construction products and new environmental standards, is one of the important criteria for attracting investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine, the growth of the local construction market and increasing the competitiveness of domestic producers of construction materials, believes the executive director of the association “Ukrcement” Lyudmyla Krypka.
“European integration is one of the criteria for investing in Ukraine. The key factors that will contribute to the growth of construction in Ukraine and the development of the construction sector are government programs for infrastructure rehabilitation, intensification of construction works, localization of production, introduction of modern technologies and focus on environmental standards. It is those Ukrainian producers who will focus on these areas that will be able to consolidate competitive positions, stimulate the development of the industry and provide the market with quality building materials,” she said at the press conference ‘State Partnership and Investments in Rehabilitation of Territories’ at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Friday.
According to her, cement industry enterprises were among the first to implement the provisions of the 305th regulation in their activities and are now working on the implementation of environmental standards, which are also included in the new EU directive.
Kripka noted that the implementation of Euro standards not only increases the competitiveness of Ukrainian producers in international markets, but also opens the way to development and innovation.
One of the important tasks for the cement industry is to reduce CO2 emissions.
“The industry is working to reduce emissions. Enterprises introduce the best available technologies and management methods, take part in monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions. Ukraine can become an example of simple methods to reduce CO2 emissions by using biomass in clinker firing,” the expert said.
Cement industry companies themselves invest in their own production, Kripka noted. Companies also invest in the construction of additional technological lines, clinker storage silos, terminals, kiln modernization and transition to alternative fuels. Further capacity expansion of cement plants will start during the active recovery phase, when cement consumption will increase to 10-10.5 million tons. Over the past two years, this figure is about 6.3 million tons, she explained.
The Ukrcement Association was established in January 2004 by reorganizing the Ukrainian Concern of Cement Industry Enterprises and Organizations Ukrcement. The association comprises five groups of companies, including nine cement enterprises.
CONSTRUCTION, European standards, INTEGRATION, investments in Ukraine
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to invest at least EUR1.5 billion ($1.56 billion) this year to support Ukraine’s economy and businesses during the war, Reuters wrote on Thursday, citing the bank’s president Odile Renault-Basso.
She said the bank will focus on Ukraine’s private sector, especially the energy sector after repeated Russian attacks on the power grid and other infrastructure. “Our plan is to continue this level of investment. At a minimum, we are aiming for 1.5 billion euros of investment, but if we can do more…, we will,” Reno-Basso told reporters.
She also said that the bank’s activities are demand-driven and the EBRD is ready to increase its investments in Ukraine to about EUR3 billion a year after the war ends.
Renaud-Basso added that Ukraine’s energy sector was a key priority this year and also in the future, as projects to modernize the sector and develop renewable energy could drive private investment after the end of the war.
“There is a lot of potential, so this will generate a lot of interest from foreign investors and it will generate a lot of activity in the country – it will really drive the growth dynamics,” she said.
Renault-Basso reportedly met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials during her visit to Kiev on Thursday. They discussed banking, logistics, and support for Ukrainians.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the EBRD has disbursed EUR6.2 billion to Ukraine, notably EUR2.4 billion last year.
