KIEV, Jan. 29 - The Metinvest group's Northern Mining and Central Mining, two of Ukraine's top five iron ore producers, increased net profit substantially in 2008, the companies reported in the agenda for a March 20 shareholder meeting that will review the year's results and vote on distribution of profits.

KIEV, Jan. 29 - A number of large Ukrainian mining and metallurgical companies have asked the government to cancel a resolution of the Transport and Communications Ministry that increases the tariffs on cargo dispatch and cuts benefits for cargo shipments in private gondolas, as well as requesting that it not come into effect before the issue is discussed with consumers.

Ukraine’s largest natural gas producer UkrGazVydobuvannya (UGV) plans to boost investments 41% this year in prospecting and production of hydrocarbons, seeking to reverse the country’s recent output decline, the company reported Wednesday.

KIEV, Jan. 26 – The price of natural gas supplied by the UkrGaz-Energo joint venture to industrial consumers is UAH934.7 per 1,000 cubic meters as of Jan. 1.

KIEV, Jan. 28 - Centravis Ltd. International Holding, which was established on the basis of Nikopol Stainless Pipe Plant (Dnipropetrovsk region), UVIS Ltd. manufacturing and commercial group, Ukraine's major stainless steel pipe producer, in January launched a new pipe production line, investing $15 million.

KIEV, Jan. 29 - A fall in ethylene sales on the European markets could lead to a sharp cut in production of the main types of products or a full stoppage of Karpatnaftokhim Ltd. in Kalush Ivano-Frankivsk region in February, the head of its production and control department, Mykola Sorokhteya, has told Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, Jan. 29 ??“ The recent $500 million Eurobond issue from PrivatBank, Ukraine??™s largest bank by assets, attracted $800 million in bids from western investors suggesting appetite for Ukrainian debt has been strong, a source said.

KIEV, Jan. 29 ??“ Oschadbank, Ukraine??™s state-owned savings bank, plans to tap international capital markets later this year with an issue of at least $100 million in Eurobonds, a bank official said.

KIEV, Jan. 29 - Ukraine plans to attract up to $1.4 billion in investments to modernize power exports lines and to boost domestic power output in 2007, a government official said Monday.

KIEV, Jan. 29 ??“ EnergoAtom, Ukraine??™s state nuclear power generator, plans to tighten safety at the country??™s nuclear power plants, Andriy Derkach, EnergoAtom President, said.