Page 54 - UKRRptJuly18

coin requiring 45 MW to produce, production in Germany costs $8,000 and in Italy $7,800. In Ukraine, production costs are about $3,400. The website writes: “Ukraine is offering miners decent conditions, including low electricity rates going down to ~$0.04 per kWh, depending on the category of users and no restrictive regulations.” Police in Ukraine have raided mining operations, largely for stealing large amounts of electricity at industrial rates.
9.1.8 Tourism sector news
15% more Ukrainians travel to Europe in 2017 a year after visa-free travel introduced . A year ago, on 11 June, the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU entered into force. This allowed Ukrainians with biometric passports to travel without a visa to most EU countries for a period of 90 days in any 180-day period. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli said: “Opening up visa free travel to the EU was a well-deserved moment for the people of Ukraine.” It resulted in a substantial increase in the number of trips by Ukrainians to the EU.” According to the State Border Guards Service, more than 20mn trips were made by Ukrainians to EU countries, an increase of 15% compared to the 17.7mn trips made during the previous 12 months, EU Neighbours reports.
Turkey remains most popular charter flight destination . So far in 2018 Turkey’s resorts remain the most popular for Ukrainian tourists using charter flights, analysts from TripSee online service have told Interfax-Ukraine. There are around 80 charter flights to Turkey from Ukraine each week, constituting 72-75% of all charter programs of Ukrainian tour operators . About 15-20% of the remaining charter flights are to Egypt, then Greece, Bulgaria and Tunisia. In 2018, new charter destinations have been launched from Ukraine: to Italian resorts in Calabria and Ancona, as well as to the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece. Commenting on prices of package tours in the summer season of 2018, TripSee said tours to Turkey start from UAH7,000 all inclusive, Greece – from UAH10,000 per person with breakfast, and to Spain – from UAH12,000 thousand with breakfast and dinner.
9.1.9 Utilities sector news
With Ukraine’s lucrative ‘green’ electricity tariffs due to expire in 18 months, Rada deputies have registered a bill that would lower the green tariff for small renewable energy projects and start an auction system for projects over 10 MW. Deputy Alexander Dombrovsky, a member of the Rada Committee for the Fuel and Energy, told Interfax-Ukraine: “Our bill is not a dogma. W are ready for dialogue, for discussion.
Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 25%-- to $137mn -- through May,
compared to the same period last year. Hungary bought 62%, followed by Poland -- 24%, and Moldova -- 11%.
9.1.10 Metallurgy & mining sector news
Ukraine increased steel production by 2.9% year-on-year to 1.695mn tonnes in May, ranking 14th in the rating of 64 countries, the world's major producers of this product, compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Interfax news agency reported on June 27. The top ten countries
54 UKRAINE Country Report July 2018 www.intellinews.com