DTEK received a letter from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) with a written notice of suspicion of the company's employees. DTEK believes that there is no valid reason for such investigative actions and that there is no legitimate basis for the suspicions set out in the investigation. DTEK is fully cooperating with NABU’s investigation.
The investigating authorities are concerned about the transparent operating rules in the wholesale electricity market which did not previously exist, and decisions governed by the operating rules which were previously made by the state bodies in a subjective way.
The reasoning behind using the principle of import parity and aligning Ukraine’s pricing methodology for coal with EU practices was approved by numerous international experts. This should be taken into account. In particular, experts approved the connection of prices for coal in Ukraine with European indexes (including logistics expenses etc.) as being in line with the principle of import parity. Research demonstrated the absence of excess profits in the coal sector and Ukrainian thermal generation more generally.
The application of the import parity principle in price setting for energy products is a requirement of IMF and other international creditors of Ukraine. In comparison to price strikes in the natural gas market, electricity tariffs for Ukraine’s population still remain the lowest in Europe.
DTEK operates within the legislative framework of Ukraine and adheres to international standards for ethics and compliance. The company is the largest investor, taxpayer and employer in Ukraine. In 2018, DTEK's capital investments amounted to UAH 20 billion, and tax contributions amounted to UAH 26 billion. In the coal industry alone, the company has invested $3.5 billion over its lifetime, increasing coal production by more than 2 times and helping use Ukrainian coal in electricity generation and avoid blackouts.
DTEK employees are providing NABU with all the necessary documents and answering all relevant questions. They are ready to help detectives understand the complex processes involved, the relevance of the international expertise used when putting the processes in place, and the relationship between Ukraine’s energy sector activities and current world practices.
When interacting with government agencies, DTEK's employees have always adhered to the rules of business ethics. The company has been active in implementing the electricity market reform in order to establish equal and transparent working rules for all participants. We consider the investigative body’s accusation that DTEK employees have misbehaved in their interaction with state authorities unjustified and baseless. The company will take all legal measures necessary to protect the honor and dignity of DTEK's employees.
DTEK calls for a thorough and independent investigation to confirm that the pricing methodology for energy coal is both legal and in line with international best practice.
