KIEV, Oct. 29 - Tokmak Solar Energy LLC launched the first phase of a solar power plant in Tokmak district of Zaporizhia region with a capacity of 1.5 MW, the press service of Zaporizhia Regional Administration has reported.

KIEV, Oct. 29 - Ukraine began the 2012/2013 heating season with natural gas reserves in underground gas storage facilities of about 21 billion cubic meters (bcm), Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yuriy Boyko said.

KIEV, Oct. 29 – Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov said Ukraine's joining the European Energy Community is an obstacle to the creation of an international gas consortium for the management of Ukraine's gas transport system with involvement of Gazprom.

KIEV, Oct. 29 – Four companies submitted bids for a tender to supply two semi-submersible floating drilling rigs to Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the company reported.

Latvia's Rigas Kugu Buvetava, Singapore's Keppel FELS Limited, Belize's Magic Worldwide Ltd and Belize's Aida Holding Ltd submitted the bids.

KIEV, Oct. 29 – The exchange rate of the hryvnia against the U.S. dollar on the interbank forex market on Monday fell to UAH 8.1800 from UAH 8.1675 per U.S. dollar registered on Friday, October 26.

KIEV, Oct. 30 - Ukrainian billionaire Vadim Novinskiy's Smart-holding has closed the acquisition of 96.06% of the shares in Kiev-based Forum Bank from Commerzbank AG, the holding said in a press release.

KIEV, Oct. 27 – The National Electricity Regulatory Commission is to increase tariffs for electricity generated from renewable sources by 1.44% effective November 1.

KIEV, Oct. 28 – The average level of information disclosure by 30 largest Ukrainian banks was 46.14%, which is evidence of a lack of transparency in the Ukrainian banking system compared to the international practice of information disclosure.

KIEV, Oct. 28 – Growth in Ukraine's gross domestic product in 2011 is expected to reach 4.7%, but in 2012 it may slow to 4%, according to a forecast by Fitch Ratings.

According to the forecast, the average annual inflation in 2011 is projected at 9.5% and in 2012 at 9%, while the average hryvnia exchange rates are expected at UAH 8.10/$1 and UAH 8.30/$1 respectively.

KIEV, Oct. 28 – Declines in business activity on the office market in Kiev could lead to a decrease in rent rates, Radomir Tsurkan, the manager of the Ukrainian office of CB Richard Ellis international company, forecasts.