Ports and Terminals

Ukraine port of Odesa not operating after Russian drone attack, minister says

Dec, 12, 2022 Posted by Gabriel Malheiros

Week 202250

The Ukrainian port of Odesa was not operating on Sunday (12/11) after the latest Russian attack on the region’s energy system, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said but added that grains traders were not expected to suspend exports.

Two other ports – Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi – authorized to export grains from Ukraine under a deal between Russia and Ukraine were partially operating, he said.

“Chornomorsk port is now operating at about 80 percent of capacity,” Mr. Solsky told Reuters in a phone call.

More than 1.5 million people in the southern Odesa region were without power after Russian drone strikes hit two energy facilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address late on Saturday (12/10).

Solsky said that Odesa port was not operating at the moment because the power generators had not been switched on yet. Grains traders continued to ship grains via the two other ports, he said.

“There are problems, but none of the traders are talking about any suspension of shipments. Ports use alternative energy sources,” Solsky said.

Since October, Moscow has been targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with large waves of missile and drone strikes.

Odesa regional authorities said electricity for the city’s population will be restored “in the coming days,” while complete restoration of the networks may take two to three months.

“The situation is difficult to predict because we are dealing with an enemy for whom there are no principles,” the Ukrainian infrastructure ministry quoted Oleksiy Vostrikov, the head of Ukraine’s state seaport authority, as saying.

“As for exports, Russia has already slowed them down by creating problems with inspections in the Bosporus, and the lack of energy supply will certainly slow them down even more,” Vostrikov said.

Ukraine is among the world’s largest producers and exporters of corn and wheat but its exports have fallen significantly due to the Russian invasion.

Source: G1

To read the full original article, please go to: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/traders-dont-plan-suspend-grain-exports-odesa-after-russian-attacks-ukraine-2022-12-11/

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