A new company plans to mine salt in Kuyalnik to reduce Ukraine's imports

In the Odesa region, the newly established company “Kuyalnik Salt Fields” plans to resume salt production in the Kuyalnik Estuary. The company expects to harvest about 300,000 metric tons of salt annually, which could significantly reduce Ukraine’s dependence on imports.

This was reported by UNIAN.

The company was founded in 2026. Its goal is to extract excess salt from the estuary and process it into edible salt.

According to the company’s estimates, the Kuyalnik Estuary could yield about 300,000 metric tons of salt per year. This is approximately three-quarters of the volume that Ukraine imported in 2025.

The company plans to raise about $30 million to implement the project. Within the Usativska community, the company intends to build an industrial park featuring a salt processing plant.

Resuming salt production could be significant for Ukraine following the loss of access to its main salt deposits. In 2022, due to the occupation of Soledar, the country lost “Artemsil,” which had been Ukraine’s largest salt-producing enterprise prior to the full-scale war.

In 2025, Ukraine imported 415,000 metric tons of salt worth approximately $49.6 million. Egypt was the main supplier, with significant volumes also coming from Turkey and Romania.

At the same time, the company views salt extraction as more than just an industrial project. Excessive mineralization of the Kuyalnik Estuary poses a threat to its ecosystem and therapeutic mud deposits.

According to estimates by scientists at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, between 1.2 and 1.5 million metric tons of salt may have entered the estuary along with seawater since 2014. The brine’s salinity currently reaches 350 parts per thousand or higher.

According to scientists’ calculations, controlled salt extraction over an area of 100–200 hectares could almost completely offset the annual inflow of salt.

At the same time, specific government decisions are required to launch the operation. Kuyalnik is part of a national nature park, a resort of national importance, and a therapeutic water facility. Therefore, the company needs, among other things, an environmental impact assessment and a permit for special water use.

According to YouControl, Kuyalnik Salt Works LLC was registered on August 11, 2026, so the company has been in operation for just over a month.

The company’s authorized capital is 210,000 hryvnias, and its primary activity is salt extraction.

Valeria Baranova is the company’s director. The company is registered in Velykodolynske, Odesa District.

The founders include Andriy Ross with a 40% stake, Oleksandr Chumachenko with 30%, and Valeria Baranova with 30%. All three are also listed as ultimate beneficial owners with direct decisive influence.

In addition to salt mining, the company holds KVED codes for the production of spices and seasonings, other basic inorganic chemicals, as well as the wholesale trade of coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices.

Ірина Глухова