KIEV, Oct. 17 - Ukraine is preparing to launch in operation two new hydropower units at the Dnister Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Power Plant (HPSPP), the largest such facility in Europe, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boyko said Wednesday.

KIEV, Oct. 17 - Ukraine’s energy sector priority next year will be construction of two new nuclear power reactors along with a nuclear fuel manufacturing plant, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Wednesday.

PARIS, Oct. 14 – The international vertically integrated mining and metal group of companies – Metinvest – starting from the second half of 2009 has cut industrial injuries in the metal sector by 19% and received an award for the Best Occupational Safety Improvement Project from the World Steel Association (WSA, Worldsteel).

KIEV, Oct. 15 – Consumer confidence in Ukraine significantly worsened in early autumn, according to a monthly survey by GfK Ukraine.

The index of consumer confidence in September fell by 6.7 points, to 74.7 points.

KIEV, Oct. 17 - Smartora Trading Ltd, a Cypriot company affiliated with the Group DF group of companies belonged to Dmytro Firtash, has increased its stake in Tifast S.r.l, an Italian titanium and other alloy production company located in San Liberato, from 32.68% to 37.96% thanks to an increase in capital.

KIEV, Oct. 17 – Gonzalo Urquijo, a member of the Group Management Board at ArcelorMittal, has been temporarily appointed CEO of ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih (earlier Kryvorizhstal, Dnipropetrovsk region), the company reporteded.

KIEV, Oct. 17 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny said Monday that a small Latvian broker had been selected as winner of tender to deliver a $400 million offshore oil rig to the company.

KIEV, Oct. 15 – The conditions of the privatization of a state stake in OSJC Ukrtelecom make the largest holding in the country SCM and Russian telecommunications group MTS the most likely buyers of the stake, according to analysts polled by Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, Oct. 15 – European Union proposals regarding access of Ukrainian companies to the European energy and transport markets presented during the 13th round of talks on the creation of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the European Union have alarmed Ukraine, said Deputy Economy Minister Valeriy Piatnytsky.

KIEV, Oct. 14 – The opposition suspects the buyer of OJSC Ukrtelecom has already been selected, Oleksandr Bondar, former head of the State Property Fund and MP from the OU-PSD faction, said at a press conference.