Ukraine seeks to revive water transportation to meet EU ‘green deal’ standards

Ukraine’s network of 13 sea and 16 river ports that include eight to 10 river terminals were the topics of discussion on the second day of the British-based online transportation infrastructure conference on April 13.

Moderator Daniel Bilak of the Kinstellar law firm noted that only 2 percent of the country’s economic output is provided by cargo from ports. He had previously headed the government’s Investment Promotion Office and was the chief adviser to former Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

In Soviet times, transportation by water accounted for up to 60 percent of all cargo transportation, stated Mykhailo Rizak, deputy chief executive of Nibolon, a leading Ukrainian grain exporter.

Inland navigable waterways extend to 2,714 kilometers, a United Nations’ report from last year says.

Relying on cheaper loans from international lenders like the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the Mykolayiv-based company has managed to build on its vision to develop a river-way logistical transportation system.

One of only two ports under concession in the region is Olvia, which the Infrastructure Ministry on Aug.