KIEV, Jan. 18 – The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a feasibility study for the reconstruction of five substations of national energy company Ukrenergo at a total cost of UAH 821.261 million.

KHARKIV, Jan. 18 – A production sharing agreement between Ukraine and Shell and Nadra Yuzovska for the Yuzovska field (7,886 square meters, located in Kharkiv and Donetsk region) could be signed by late January, Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Oleh Proskuriakov said.

KIEV, Jan. 18 – The law on the specifics of the creation of the public joint-stock company for railway transport and the documents drawn for its implementation do not foresee the privatization of Ukrainian railways, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Voldoymyr Kozak told reporters after talks with the trade union of railways and transport builders in Kiev.

KHARKIV, Jan. 18 – Shell oil company is ready to use Ukrainian-made pipes if the necessary amount is provided with no quality issues, Ukrainian Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Oleh Proskuriakov said in Kharkiv.

KIEV, Jan. 18 – Industrial production in Ukraine in December 2012 fell on December 2011 by 7.6%, which is worse than the fall of 3.7% in November, 4.2% in October and 7% in September, the State Statistics Service reported.

KIEV, Jan. 21 - Ukraine’s natural gas output rose 0.25% to 20.185 billion cubic meters in 2012 from 20.14 billion cu m in 2011, according to the energy and coal industry ministry.

STRASBOURG, Jan. 21 - The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Ukraine to pay EUR 500,000 under five lawsuits.

One case concerned the treatment of a group of detainees during and after a search and security operation conducted in January 2007 in Izyaslav Prison.

TBILISI, Jan. 21 – Ukraine’s Privat Group has bought a state-owned 87% stake in the statutory fund of Georgia’s Gudauri ski resort, the Georgian Economic Development Ministry told Interfax.

The deal was estimated to be worth $14.5 million. The ministry said that the investor has sent $10 million to the budget.

KIEV, Jan. 19 – The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has again postponed the consideration of a EUR 175 million loan to national energy company Ukrenergo for the construction of a 750 kV power transmission line between Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and Kakhovka substation, and a new 750/330/220kV Kakhovka substation.

KIEV, Jan. 20 – The National Bank of Ukraine has refused to fulfill an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to transfer $2 billion from its forex reserves to the government, acting Finance Minister Ihor Umansky said.