Ukraine joins UN Environment Program
Some 35 percent of Europe’s biodiversity is found in Ukraine. Scientists, however, point to the degradation of the environment caused by man’s intensive economic activities and the resultant large-scale disturbances of ecosystems. Ricarda Rieger, Country Director, UNDP Ukraine, stresses that the UN proclaimed 2010 the International Biodiversity Year. UKRINFORM quotes Rieger as saying that during this year various projects will be carried out across the world to spread information, help protect biodiversity, and encourage governments, organizations, and citizens to take part in measures aimed at popularizing the problem of loss of biodiversity. Experts note that the Red Book of Ukraine has increased in size by almost one-third over the past fifteen years. This fact, however, remains unnoticed by the Ukrainian public. Ukrainians don’t realize what they are losing for lack of public attention to this problem.
Gas output is increasing in Lviv oblast
Naftohaz Ukrainy’s subsidiary Ukrhazvydobuvannia has completed the construction of a gas compressing plant at the Liubeshiv gas field in Lviv oblast, informs the company’s press service. The press release has it that the launch of this plant will make up for the decline in gas output at the Liubeshiv, Berezhnytsia, and Eastern Liubeshiv gas fields, increasing extraction from 30,000 to 190,000 cubic meters per 24 hours. This plant is made up of two high efficiency AJAX compressors made by Cooper Compression (US). These compressors are low emission and environment friendly. The service life span is 20 years and the project costs 45 million hryvnias. The press release quotes Ukrhazvydobuvannia’s director Yurii Borysov as saying: “The company is planning to install three new compressor stations in Lviv oblast this year. Our estimates show that this will allow to stabilize gas output in Western Ukraine for the next ten years at least. The Liubeshiv, Berezhnytsia, and Eastern Liubeshiv gas fields are in Stryi raion, Lviv oblast. Their deposits total 1.5 billion cu m of gas.
Americans predict higher coal-bed methane extraction in Ukraine
BernsteinResearch experts point to a mounting interest in the extraction of coal methane. Their report reads that while the market is waiting for drilling results in Poland, Ukraine is quickly becoming a new epicenter of unconventional gas sources. About a year ago the Ukrainian Parliament passed a bill on the prospecting for and development of coal-bed methane deposits. This law has stepped up the investor’s interest, as evidenced by the signing of an agreement between EuroGas (Poland) and Total, Europe’s largest oil-refining company, on the prospecting for bed-coal methane deposits in Ukraine. Analysts also note the interest shown by the British-Dutch Shell and British-Russian TNK-BP Ltd. The report stresses that Ukraine is the world’s sixth consumer of natural gas, with over 75 percent of this gas being imported from Russia and Central Asia. Experts believe that this makes coal-bed methane extraction a promising project, while prospecting for and extracting from alternative sources may be a risk for Russia’s Gazprom.
Euro 2012 floral logo to appear in Kyiv
Downtown Kyiv will witness the ceremony of unveiling a floral logo of Euro 2012, as part of the project “Two Years to Euro 2012” and in conjunction with the launch of Kyiv’s official logo as one of the host of the championship’s finals, reports UKRINFORM. This flower bed will be planted near the architectural site of the Golden Gate (in the public garden on the crossing of Volodymyrska St. and Yaroslaviv Val St.). The municipal association Kyivzelenbud has been designated as the project’s client. It will supervise the survey, development, and ornamental greenery phases. This project will be financed by the Chief Municipal Engineering Directorate using the capital’s budget for development and restoration of greenery expense items for 2010.
A billion euros to be invested in Zaporizhia’s wind power
EuroCape New Energy Ltd. and Wind Power Ltd. in the Donbas have announced their desire to invest over a billion euros in the construction of wind farms in Pryazovsky, Prymorsk, and Berdiansk raions in Zaporizhia oblast. The regional state administration has signed a cooperation agreement with EuroCape New Energy; topographic works, land measurement, and feasibility studies have been carried out to receive planning permissions for a construction site in Pryazovsky raion. Regulatory and monetary assessment has been made. Peter Obrien, CEO, EuroCape New Energy, and his Ukrainian counterpart Yurii Zhabsky have asked the regional state administration to assist with registration paperwork and settlement of the land issues. If this cooperation proves to be effective, the range of the investors’ socio-economic commitments will be considered, along with the possibility of component parts being supplied by Zaporizhia enterprises. Experts with the regional administration say that this wind power project, if implemented, will improve the investment climate in Zaporizhia oblast and provide new jobs.
