The war is not over yet, but the reconstruction of Ukraine has already begun. Fifteen Dutch companies want to help build houses, clear debris and build bridges, according to research by BNR. Our government contributes to the costs.
In April, the Kiev government announced it would start rehabilitation works in areas where the conflict appears to have subsided. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) therefore engaged a local Ukrainian consultancy, Praktika, to draw attention to the services of the Dutch business community. Fifteen big names appear in a brochure published by RVO, including that of heavy haulage company Mammoet.
“Dutch help is urgently needed,” says Denys Sytnyk, managing partner of Praktika. His company tries to match supply and demand in war-torn areas.
The Netherlands contributes, total price: 383 billion
A lot of money is involved in rebuilding. At the end of December, the government announced that 180 million euros will be made available for humanitarian aid and short-term reconstruction. In total, according to the latest estimates, the reconstruction of Ukraine will cost 383 billion euros.
The Dutch contribution to reconstruction is mainly financed with funds made available by the UN and the EU, through the World Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB) respectively.
The Netherlands is also paying money directly, under the banner of DRIVE, an RVO program that boosts infrastructure in developing countries. “This support can amount to up to 50 percent of a project’s costs, provided that the contribution is largely Dutch,” says Sytnyk.
Infrastructure and debris recovery
Praktika has a clear division of tasks in mind. Mammoet and DDM get to work as rubble clearers and move building materials. Dutch demolition and salvage company Koole Contractors will carry out the works at sea. Praktika writes that there is a call for a party to “clean up debris from wetlands”.
The Netherlands also plays an important role in building new infrastructure, says an RVO spokesman. Several companies, represented by the Infra Capacity Alliance (ICA), want to pave asphalt, build bridges and deliver prefabricated houses in Ukraine. They will also install mobile water and electricity. Praktika has MTD and Bredenoord in mind for this.
Modular building
All of this is done in a modular way, explains Jan Pol of the ICA. Modular is a construction technique in which large parts arrive ready-to-use from the factory to the construction site. This has advantages, says Pol. ‘The country wants to become a member of the EU, while the existing infrastructure and building codes are based on the old Russian building codes. We are trying to get the country to embrace modular construction as a solution to aging or damaged infrastructure.’
The modular construction also allows you to respond quickly to changing circumstances, a fact of life in wartime. For example, the west of the country is currently taking in many refugees from the east, where the war is still going on. This has created a severe housing shortage in western Ukraine, which can be solved with modular construction, says Pol. “The advantage of prefab houses is that they can be dismantled after the war and relocated to other parts of the country. Refugees who leave for the east move again with their homes.’
More and more companies are helping
Ever since Putin crossed the border, Jan Pol has been mapping out what Ukraine will need. Along with other companies in the sector, he has shaded bridges, roads and other critical infrastructure. ICA participants such as bridge builder Janson Bridging, construction company Jan Snel and aerial platform specialist Riwal hope to rebuild all that has been destroyed in the long term.
The Dutch business community is also involved in demining. The country is littered with explosives that have not yet exploded. Riel’s REASeuro explosives detection firm is pictured with the Ukrainians to get the job done, Pol confirms.
Compoform CEO Max Hamm thinks things are moving too slowly. His hands itch. Compoform supplies plastic material for modular construction. ‘They can easily adopt the technology we use for this. What we are waiting for is a yes from Ukraine’.
“There are no projects in the pipeline yet,” admits an RVO spokesperson. There is, however, a lot of inventory. The number of companies offering help is growing, says Praktika’s Sytnyk. “We are currently negotiating with three or four other Dutch companies.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
