REUTERS
In total, Akhmetov's DTEK owes over US$57.7 million to Ukraine's government.
DTEK Skhidenergo of Ukraine's largest private energy holding DTEK, controlled by businessman Rinat Akhmetov, has halted payments for natural gas, which it withdraws for heat and electricity generation at the Luhansk thermal power plant (TPP).
That is according to the Nashi Groshi ("Our Money") project, referring to the letter by LLC Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) sent to the President's Office and the Cabinet of Ministers.
"According to the state operator, DTEK Skhidenergo in February-March withdrew gas worth UAH 241 million (US$8.7 million) without authorization and without payment. It turned out that the company has no gas supplier at all," the publication said on March 23, referring to a copy of the letter.
In February, Akhmetov's company lodged a lawsuit with a Ukrainian-controlled economic court in Luhansk region against JSC Luhanskgaz. The court satisfied the claim and banned Luhanskgaz from restricting gas supplies to the Luhansk TPP.
In addition, according to National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine, DTEK Skhidenergo failed to pay another UAH 707 million (US$25.5 million) to the GTSOU for gas supplied.
As of July 1, 2019, DTEK also stopped paying for the transmission of electricity via the state-owned power grids while exporting it. As of March 2020, such debt totaled about UAH 700 million (US$25.2 million), the publication said.
In total, Akhmetov's DTEK owes over UAH 1.6 billion (US$57.7 million) to Ukraine's government. It includes UAH 948 million (US$34.2 million) in debts for the gas that was already withdrawn and consumed.
DTEK accounts for 90% of Ukraine's coal production and owns 70% of all coal-fired power plants and major solar and wind power plants. DTEK sells its electricity in Ukraine at a price that is 75% higher than in Europe.