| 12.03.2014: The authorities of the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which is currently under Russian military control, aim to nationalize PV power plants installed in the region by Crimea Solar, a subsidiary of Austrian solar project developer Activ Solar GmbH, according to local media. The announcement was made by Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksenov in an interview released to Russian press agency ITAR-TASS. Activ Solar’s largest PV power plants are located in Crimea: the company’s 100 MW Perovo power plant and the 82 MW Ohotnikovo power station were installed in the region in 2011. The company owns and operates around 500 MW of PV power plants across the southern Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Odessa and Mykolaiv. A spokeswoman for Activ Solar would not speculate on what will happen to its assets in Ukraine. She did say, however, »the uncertainties and disputes concerning the political leadership and geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and Crimea in particular have caused a disruption in economic activities in the country.« This disruption is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, especially in the south of the country, where the company’s solar power plants are located. Activ Solar was, however, able to reopen its office in Kiev last week after shutting down due to security reasons, and the company said it will continue to carry out its activities and projects to the best of its abilities. »The company will do everything to continue serving its clients, complete the projects that are underway and fulfil its contractual obligations.« In early March, Reuters reported that unspecified assets of Activ Solar could be frozen as part of sanctions imposed on members of Ukraine’s former government. In this case, the assets are located in Ukrainian regions not controlled by Russian military forces. Reuters interviewed Reinhard Proksch, a Liechtenstein-based lawyer that represents Liechtenstein-registered P&A Corporate Trust, owner of Activ Solar. Proksch said that despite the fact that Activ Solar is led by the son-in-law of Sergiy Klyuev, a senior official in former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions, the company is headquartered in Austria to facilitate the acquisition of PV technology. Proksch stressed that the company’s business was not based on family relationships but on »demonstrably economic considerations.« After contacting Activ Solar for further information, the company referred PHOTON to a press release published in mid-February in which it denies any affiliation with Slav AG, a company owned by Ukrainian businessmen Andriy and Serhiy Kluyev, brothers who were directly connected to the Yanukovych government. Activ Solar told PHOTON that it deeply regrets the political disputes in Ukraine, adding that »sustainable action always requires the commitment of all parties.« © PHOTON http://www.activsolar.com |
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