State-owned Oschadbank was the first Ukrainian bank to enter into a loan agreement for the installation of a gas-piston power plant under the updated "Affordable Loans at 5-7-9%". The concessional loan will be provided for the purchase of a 2.5 MW generation system.

"As the economic bloc of the Government, it is important for us to ensure that businesses are capable of operating even during electricity supply restrictions. With this in mind, we have expanded the scope of the government programme "Affordable Loans at 5-7-9%" to enable entrepreneurs to purchase gas-fired generating units with credit funds. This will help them increase their energy resilience. Today, we are seeing the first positive results of this programme. This is just one of the elements of the Government's support package. In addition to lending to gas-fired power generation for enterprises, there are a number of other government programmes and individual offers from banks aimed at improving the energy resilience of both businesses and households," said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

Oschadbank provided a loan to a company that supplies raw materials to many Ukrainian producers of essential goods. The loan amount is UAH 28.7 million for a period of 5 years at 9% per annum. The plant's capacity is 2.5 MW, which will allow the company to provide itself with electricity in the event of a prolonged power outage.

"Cooperation with the Government gives Oschadbank the opportunity to make energy independence loans more affordable for individuals and businesses. This partnership helps the Ukrainian economy to become more resilient and citizens to survive possible blackouts with the least inconvenience. We are grateful to the Government for entrusting our bank with the implementation of its programmes. Using our preferential products and cooperation with international partners, we are not only responding to the challenges of a full-scale war, but also building the energy independent future of our country," Oschadbank Chairman of the Board Serhiy Naumov commented on the agreement.

In addition to participating in the government programme "Affordable Loans at 5-7-9%", Oschadbank offers more than 30 partnership programmes with energy equipment vendors to micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), as well as a joint programme with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with a cashback option. The volume of loan applications for financing energy projects of Oschadbank's MSME clients has already exceeded UAH 1 billion and continues to grow.

As for large businesses, such clients can obtain an energy independence loan in excess of UAH 150 million in accordance with a memorandum signed on 25 June by leading Ukrainian banks. According to the memorandum, the interest rate on such a loan will be close to the National Bank's discount rate of 13.5% per annum for the first year.

We remind you that the package of financial instruments for individuals and businesses to overcome the electricity shortage currently offered by the government (in particular, through the Entrepreneurship Development Fund and authorised banks) includes a number of opportunities:

• Expanded programme "Affordable Loans at 5-7-9%" for businesses to purchase and install gas-fired power generation units. The soft loan amount is up to UAH 150 million and the loan term is up to 10 years. The "Affordable Loans at 5-7-9%" programme also provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to use credit funds to purchase solar and wind power plants, as well as equipment for the storage of electricity.
• Concessional lending for energy infrastructure rehabilitation projects provided by 19 of Ukraine's major banks. The loan amount can be up to EUR 25 million. The loan term is up to 5-7 years.
• Concessional lending at 0% for households to install solar panels with energy storage systems and wind turbines. The loan amount is up to UAH 480,000. The loan term is 10 years. The state fully compensates the interest rate.
• Extended programme "Affordable Loans at 5-7-9" for condominiums and housing cooperatives for the purchase of equipment for generation from alternative energy sources and energy storage facilities. The loan amount is up to UAH 5 million at 7% per annum and the term is up to 5 years. The programme will work in conjunction with the GREENDim programme. Under this programme, condominiums and housing cooperatives will have access to up to 70% of the project cost after its completion.

In two months, banking institutions received more than 7,300 applications from businesses and individuals for loans to restore energy infrastructure and approved applications worth almost UAH 4 billion under both government and individual banking programmes.