The Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP) supports the call of agricultural producers and exporters to introduce a 30% discount on rail transportation to Izmail and Reni stations, the press service of the state-owned enterprise said in a telegram.
“Ukrainian agricultural producers propose to the Cabinet of Ministers to put the ports of Odesa and the Danube region on an equal footing… The UDP fully supports the proposal of the agrarians. The enemy does not stop attacking the infrastructure of Odesa. Ukraine must maintain alternative export routes,” the statement reads.
The UDP emphasized that the Danube route is a plus of 250 km of roads or 200 km of railroad. Because of this, the Danube ports are losing competition even with the same freight and transshipment tariffs that apply in Odesa ports.
The shipping company reminds that a precedent has already been set: the Cabinet of Ministers recently introduced a 30% discount on rail transportation of agricultural products from areas where hostilities are possible, the UDP said, adding that the need for exports to move across the Danube has been repeatedly discussed at industry events, forums, and conferences. However, in the context of critically low grain prices, producers and traders are not ready to lose earnings (margin) to reduce risks.
“The discount on rail transportation will absolutely pay off if the condition for receiving it is the transshipment of grain to the state river or sea fleet. The state budget will compensate for the revenue lost by the railroad at the expense of freight income,” the state-owned enterprise says.
The UDP reminded that it is currently transporting Serbian grain and emphasized that it has enough fleet to work with Ukrainian products at the same time.
“Other Danube countries are lobbying very hard for the interests of their own carriers, because the entire Danube is suffering from an abnormal drop in rates and cargo flows. Ukraine has its own national carrier, which should also be supported and preserved,” the UDP emphasized.
Nebras Power is announcing its entry into the Ukrainian electricity market with the acquisition of six solar projects and a partnership agreement with UDP Renewables, Nebras Power reported on Twitter.
According to a report on the website of the president of Ukraine, UDP Renewables investment and development company and the Qatari state-owned company Nebras Power have signed an agreement to invest in “green” generation facilities, the construction of which is scheduled for 2021-2022.
According to the agreements reached, Nebras Power becomes the owner of a controlling stake in a number of solar power plant operators.
The signing of the agreement will contribute to deepening cooperation between Ukraine and the State of Qatar in the field of foreign investment and the development of renewable energy sources, an innovative economy and environmental protection, the President’s Office noted.
As reported, at the end of January, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) authorized Nebras Power Investment Management B.V. (the Netherlands), a member of the Qatar group Nebras, to receive 50% or more in six companies operating solar and wind power plants of businessman Vasyl Khmelnytsky and his partners.
According to the committee, the matter concerns 50% in Volyn West Wind-1 LLC and Volyn West Wind-2 LLC, as well as more than 50% in Free Energy Henichesk LLC, Scythia-Solar-1 LLC, Scythia-Solar-2 LLC and Port Solar LLC.
UDP Renewables, an investment and development company in the field of renewable energy, in a consortium with the Qatari energy company Nebras Power, plans to invest about $ 250 million in “green” energy in Ukraine in 2021-2022, UDP Renewables CEO Serhiy Yevtushenko said.
“he next big step in the life of UDP Renewables and UFuture is the conclusion of an investment agreement with the largest energy company in Qatar, Nebras Power. At the first stage of our strategic partnership, Qataris together with us become shareholders of a large portfolio of operating solar power plants, and then the formation of a consortium for the construction of a whole portfolio of projects in wind energy,” Yevtushenko said on Facebook.
“He noted that the planned volume of investments of the consortium in 2021-2022 could reach $ 250 million, calling it “a good start for a long-term partnership.”
According to him, the signing of contracts by UDP Renewables and Nebras Power during the official visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the State of Qatar is proof of the intentions of both states to develop long-term cooperation.
In addition, Yevtushenko noted that with the conclusion of the investment agreement with Nebras Power, the Ukrainian team received another unique experience in structuring and closing a complex international transaction, which had been working on for two years. Everlegal law firm acted as a legal advisor to UDP Renewables.
Gudzovka-Solar PV PP reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 30,000 tons per year.
UDP Renewables, whose strategic investor is the holding company UFuture, pursues its partnership with the world leading company in renewables — ACCIONA. As part of the cooperation, two stages of new solar plant “Gudzovka-Solar” are commissioned in the city of Izmail, Odessa region. Investments in the project amounted to about €21 mln.
“I am proud that we have the opportunity to implement joint projects together with ACCIONA. Our partner is reliable, efficient and has high standards of work. We are glad that we were able to reveal Ukraine’s investment attractiveness for an international strategist, as our cooperation is an inspiring example of system-building cooperation,” said Sergiy Yevtushenko, managing Partner of UDP Renewables.
Gudzovka-Solar-1 PV PP and Gudzovka-Solar-2 PV PP have a peak capacity of 24.4 MW totaled up and are equipped with more than 72,000 solar panels manufactured by JASolar. This amount of innovative equipment generates about 33,600 MWh of electricity per year and can meet the needs of 13,000 households.
“Despite the turbulent period in the industry and in the world as a whole, UFuture systematically implements its strategic plans and invests in Ukraine’s renewable energy. We faithfully fulfil all our obligations to the state and our partners. Today, the company is considering various scenarios for further development in this area. Successful cooperation with the world’s leading market players formulates the necessary expertise and reputation base to expand our activities, both in Ukraine and, possibly, in foreign markets,” said Nicholas Tymoshchuk, CEO of UFuture.
The EPC contractor of the project was a group of companies KNESS, the financial partner was Credit Agricole Bank.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
UDP Renewables is an investment and development company in the Ukrainian renewable energy sector. With diversification in the type of renewable power generation and geography, by 2022 UDP Renewables strives to become one of the largest producers of clean energy in Ukraine, with a total capacity of more than 300 MW.
UFuture is a holding company of Ukrainian entrepreneur Vasyl Khmelnytsky, which has a diversified portfolio of assets in the fields of real estate, infrastructure, industry, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and IT. In particular, UFuture is a strategic investor in UDP Renewables. UFuture’s assets are valued at $500 million, and the total capitalization of the businesses in which it has invested is up to $1 billion.
UDP Renewables has launched a photovoltaic power plant in Pervomaysk, Mykolaiv region.
“Pervomaysk” PV PP occupies an area of 12,3 hectares, with more than 19,7 thousand solar panels (330W of capacity) installed by Jinko Solar, the world’s biggest manufacturer of solar panels. This amount of panels can generate almost 7600 MWh of electricity per year. This is sufficient to meet the needs of 3,250 households.
“During the first nine months of this year, the capacity of renewable energy in Ukraine has doubled. We and our partners believe that the further growth of the share of renewables in the country’s energy mix is strategically important and we ensure that energy production at our stations is in line with the world’s best practices,” Vasyl Khmelnytsky, founder of UFuture, said.
Operation of “Pervomaysk” PV PP will allow to reduce carbon dioxide emissions up to 11 thousand tons per year.
“Our team has made significant efforts to launch “Pervomaysk” PV PP. This project is another contribution to the implementation of the National Energy Strategy. By the end of 2019, Ukraine will reach 4% share of renewables in the total electricity production. We are grateful to our partners — KNESS group of companies, Everlegal law firm, and the financial partner, JSB “Ukrgasbank”, for the support in the implementation of the project,” Sergiy Yevtushenko, co-founder and managing partner of UDP Renewables, said.
During the construction, 125 jobs have been created at the station. The general contractor has been KNESS.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
UDP Renewables is an investment and development company in the Ukrainian renewable energy sector. With diversification in type of renewable power generation and geography, by 2022 UDP Renewables strives to become one of the largest producers of clean energy in Ukraine, with total capacity of more than 300 MW.
UFuture, a holding company of Ukrainian entrepreneur, Vasyl Khmelnytsky, that integrates his business and impact-investment projects, is a strategic investor of UDP Renewables. UFuture has a diversified portfolio of assets in the fields of real estate, infrastructure, industry, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and IT. Currently, UFuture’s assets are estimated at $550 million, and the total capitalization of the businesses it invested in is more than $1 billion.
UDP Renewables has launched the Port Solar solar power plant with a capacity of 8.6 MW in Izmail, Odesa region.
According to the press service of the company, more than 25,700 solar panels manufactured by Jinko Solar (the largest global manufacturer of solar panels) are installed on an area of 16 hectares. It is expected that the plant will generate about 11,800 MWh of electricity annually.
The co-investor in the facility is Slovakia’s E-Group, the general contractor is the Metropolia Group of Companies (Kyiv).
“Involving the experience of our partners, UFuture and UDP Renewables are working to ensure that energy production in Ukraine complies with the best global environmental safety and energy efficiency practices. Our goal is more than 300 MW by 2022. Now we are following the plan, gradually implementing projects in the regions with the highest solar activity – Odesa, Zaporizhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions,” the press service said, citing the founder of the UFuture investment group Vasyl Khmelnytsky.
The company also reported that Ukrainian-built equipment worth over UAH 44.5 million was used in the construction of this plant. The total amount of attracted investments amounted to EUR 6.75 million.
UDP Renewables is an investment and development company in the field of renewable energy. It is part of the UFuture investment group, which belongs to Khmelnytsky.
E-Group is part of the INDUSTRY investments sub-fund that invests in energy. It belongs to the portfolio of the qualified investors fund ZMJ SICAV.
