Two companies participated in the auction held on Thursday, January 16, by the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine, with a starting price of UAH 119 million 608 thousand 594.06 excluding VAT. The winner, Knauf Gypsum Skala LLC, offered UAH 121.05 million excluding VAT for the license, while the second bidder, Kamianets-Podilskyi Gipsovik JSC, offered UAH 120.55 million.
The 115-hectare Skoviatynske deposit is located 1-2 km from the village of Shyshkivtsi in Chortkiv (formerly Borshchiv) district and is the largest in Ternopil region with gypsum reserves of 43.9 million tons. Knauf has been developing the Shyshkovets deposit adjacent to Skoviatynske since 2006. As of 2021, the Shyshkovetsky deposit covered an area of 41 hectares and had reserves of over 11.4 million tons of gypsum.
Knauf is a leading global manufacturer of gypsum and building materials.
Currently, Knauf has an operating plant in Kyiv, which produces about 25 million square meters of gypsum board and 200 thousand tons of dry mixes. Previously, Knauf also owned a plant in Soledar (Donetsk region), which was destroyed by the occupiers. The company took its employees out and employed them at the Kyiv plant, which employs 425 people in total.
As reported, the German company Knauf will build a plant for the production of drywall and dry building mixtures in Borshchiv (Ternopil region), with investments in the project amounting to EUR 150 million, with a design capacity of 30 million square meters of drywall and 320 thousand tons of dry mixtures.
According to Opendatabot, at the end of 2023, the Knauf plant in Kyiv (Knauf Gypsum Kyiv LLC) increased its net income by 65% to UAH 3.53 billion, and net profit by 2.6 times to UAH 1 billion.
Auction Details
- Highest Bidder: LLC “Knauf Gyps Skala” — UAH 121.05 million
- Second-Place Bidder: Kamyanets-Podilskyi JSC “Gipsovik” — UAH 120.55 million
- License Term: 20 years for gypsum extraction
Location & Reserves
- Deposit: Skovyatyn gypsum field, spanning 115 hectares, located about 1-2 km from Shyshkivtsi village in Chortkiv (formerly Borshchiv) district, Ternopil region
- Estimated Reserves: 43.9 million tons of gypsum
- Annual Quarry Productivity: Up to 502,800 tons
- Projected Operational Lifespan: Approximately 84.4 years
Knauf’s Presence in the Region
LLC “Knauf Gyps Skala” is registered in the city of Borshchev and is part of the German Knauf group (managed by Alexander Knauf and Manfred Grundke). Between 2007 and 2010, Knauf conducted geological studies at the Skovyatyn site.
Beyond this newly acquired area, Knauf already extracts gypsum at the adjacent Shyshkovets deposit, covering 41 hectares with reserves exceeding 11.4 million tons of gypsum as of 2021. The two deposits together will significantly boost Knauf’s resource base in Ukraine.
Significance of the Deal
- Strategic Expansion: The Skovyatyn deposit acquisition reinforces Knauf’s long-term plans for stable gypsum supply.
- Industrial Importance: Gypsum is a critical raw material for construction materials (e.g., drywall, plasters).
Local Economic Impact: Licensing fees and ongoing mining operations could contribute to regional development, ensuring local employment and infrastructure opportunities. - With the special permit secured, Knauf is poised to further strengthen its footprint in the Ukrainian construction materials market, leveraging extensive reserves at both the Skovyatyn and Shyshkovets deposits for long-term gypsum production.
