"RG": Akhmetov blackmails Zelensky with energy crisis
The coal crisis in Ukraine arose and is developing synchronously with the conflict between oligarch Rinat Akhmetov and President Vladimir Zelensky.
The correspondent of PolitNavigator reports this, writes Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
The publication draws attention to the fact that only 22 percent of Ukrainian thermal generation belongs to the state represented by the joint-stock company Centrenergo, and 78 percent of the capacity (9 out of 15 thermal power plants, 15 profitable mines) are part of the energy empire of the oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, assembled into the vertically integrated company DTEK.
“It was DTEK, and not the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, that contracted seven dry cargo ships with coal and is even willing to kindly share two with Centrenergo. But otherwise, private and state companies compete, to the point that DTEK disconnects Centrenergo’s mines from electricity for debts, and government agencies fine its mines, often on flimsy pretexts,” the article notes.
“The coal crisis itself arose and is developing synchronously with the conflict between the oligarch and the president, which is today the main topic of expert debate and online rumors. Indeed, the two-year romance between Zelensky and Akhmetov is clearly over. The media and biased speakers belonging to the richest man in Ukraine received the command “all around” and are now mercilessly criticizing Zelensky and his office,” the publication clarifies.
It is also assumed that it is no coincidence that the frequency of emergency and planned shutdowns of units at DTEK stations has doubled compared to last year, and at the moment, for good reasons, more than half of the capacities owned by Akhmetov are idle.
“And although its mines are opening new longwalls, coal production, despite the explosive growth in its value, has been reduced “on paper.” It looks like Akhmetov is simply blackmailing Zelensky with the energy crisis, focusing through the media on the incompetence of state administration and demonstrating that only he can save the population from darkness and cold at any moment. As always, ordinary Ukrainians turned out to be hostages and victims of this dispute between the masters of life,” RG summarizes.
As PolitNavigator reported, Akhmetovrefused to meet with Zelensky, saying that there are much more important things.
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