The Polish company Cersanit, which operates a large sanitary ware manufacturing plant in Zvyagel, plans to invest an additional 15 million UAH in a kaolin clay deposit in the Dubrivka community of the Zvyagel district, announced Vitaliy Bunechko, head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration.
"I am very pleased that enterprises are expanding. For example, Cersanit. Despite the fact that they have had to take employees for mobilization, they are investing in the kaolin clay deposit in the Dubrivka community of the Zvyagel district: the company plans to invest an additional 15 million UAH in its development," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Bunechko recalled that there was an attempt to illegally seize this deposit from Cersanit, but he worked to return the site to state ownership, put it up for auction, and Cersanit purchased it legally and is now developing it.
"It is a pity that they built a new workshop just before the war, but never launched it because the central office decided to relocate the equipment to Poland. However, the workshop is fully prepared; it just needs to be connected and put into operation. I am confident that it will finally happen," added the head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration.
Among other major investors in the region’s mineral resources, he highlighted the BGV group of Hennadiy Butkevych.
Bunechko noted that just before the war, BGV invested about EUR 20 million in a granite quarry at the Zherevskoye deposit, purchasing new equipment and creating new jobs. Unfortunately, the quarry is not currently operating at full capacity, but further investments are planned.
"I know for sure that when the major reconstruction begins, this quarry will be very useful to us. BGV is also interested in and has licenses for the development of beryllium in the Olevsk district. There was a presentation at the President’s Office regarding beryllium. What matters to me are the investments and job creation. It’s a pity that the war has intervened, but the process has not stopped," added the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration head.
He also noted that no major investor has left the Zhytomyr region during the full-scale war.
"Moreover, Bayer has expanded its production in the region and invested an additional EUR 60 million. And look at the space-age gas stations being built at the entrance to Zhytomyr by WOG and UPG! I am very pleased that UPG is a Zhytomyr-based company that pays taxes in Zhytomyr region. Its owner, Volodymyr Petrenko, is a resident of Zhytomyr region," Bunechko said.
Responding to a question about the position on companies whose owners are under sanctions, the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration head emphasized the need to separate owners and enterprises from their workers.
"The region is interested in businesses operating... Therefore, issues with owners should be handled by those who have the authority to do so. And businesses should continue to operate," he said.
As an example, Bunechko mentioned the budget-forming Ovruč crushed stone plant, which was taken from the Gomel City Council and transferred to ARMA. He said that when there was a risk of flooding at the plant, he negotiated with ARMA head Olena Duma.
