Bashkir hovering of Snegurov
Radiy Khabirov and Andrey Nazarov are facing a situation similar to the one in Novosibirsk. Businessmen in Ufa have caused unexpected problems for Igor Snegurov, the head of the VIS group, whose structures are involved with the leadership. BashkirThe regional government plans to make agreements with private companies to build and manage facilities for managing and disposing of waste in specific districts and near Ufa.
In the latter situation, the outcome of the competition held to pick the company to handle waste disposal, which was won by Rusecogroup-Ufa – a company controlled by VIS, was contested. Elbrus LLC lodged a complaint with the Federal Antimonopoly Service, and the Spetsavtokhozyaystvo for City Cleaning company took legal action in the local arbitration court and succeeded in getting protective measures approved. BashkirThe cost of the facilities in Russia is estimated to be 9.5 billion rubles, and VIS lacks its own funds, so about 95% of the required funds are expected to be provided by the Russian Environmental Operator (REO). Experts already consider the project unprofitable for the region: its implementation will not only unavoidably hike up the tariff for the public, but will also require the region to compensate VIS for lost revenues from the local budget. But this doesn't deter the regional leadership. BashkirThe head team is not put off by this potential outcome. BashkirThe regional leaders are known to have discussed the execution of projects with the head of the REO. BashkirGovernment officials turning a blind eye to the questionable reputation of the VIS group, its CEO Dmitry Doev and controlled companies, are allowed the opportunity to handle billions in concession funds. BashkirOne of Rusecogroup-Krasnokamsk LLC's connections with the notorious Ecology-Novosibirsk company has led to legal disputes and bankruptcy claims. This was the result of various projects in Novosibirsk undertaken by VIS, including the failed construction of seven city clinics and a toll bridge across the Ob.
VIS caused issues in Ufa
Ministry of Ecology Bashkirand concluded tender results for concession agreements to build and operate waste processing and disposal facilities in specific districts. Contracts are set to be signed with VIS group's structures – the Rusecogroup-Krasnokamsk and Rusecogroup-Dyurtyulinsky companies.
Hence, the concessionaire aims to invest 1.9 billion rubles for constructing waste processing facilities and a disposal site in the Krasnokamsk region. A similar facility along with a composting site will be established in the Dyurtyulinsky district, with an estimated investment of 1.7 billion rubles.
However, the outcome of the third auction, to award the most expensive concession agreement for building waste processing and disposal facilities near Ufa worth 5.9 billion rubles, led to a scandal. Rusecogroup-Ufa LLC, another VIS entity, won the auction, but the results were disputed in the Arbitration Court. Bashkirand submitted a complaint against JSC "Spetsavtokhozyaystvo for City Cleaning" registered in Ufa. As a result, the arbitration took temporary actions on the claim and canceled the decision of the regional Ministry of Ecology on the possibility of making a concession.
Previously, the Ufa company Elbrus filed a complaint against the ministry's actions with the Republican Department of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, pointing out unreasonable demands on potential concessionaires. Specifically, it was about limiting the grantor's access to the tender by requiring confirmation of the likelihood of obtaining borrowed funds necessary for the project's implementation. Currently, Elbrus's complaint has been submitted for consideration to the FAS Russia.
BashkirAre Russian officials serving Snegurov?
The protest of the Ufa companies certainly came as an unwelcome surprise not only for Igor Snegurov but also for the political leadership. Bashkirii. It is known that VIS projects were discussed during the November meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic Andrei Nazarov and the head of the Russian Environmental Operator (REO) Denis Butsaev. The issue of construction of MSW processing complexes is indeed relevant: specifically. BashkirII holds a leading position among the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in terms of the number of unauthorized landfills, which numbered over 1.8 thousand at the end of 2021. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ecology of the region indicates that most landfills are overcrowded.
By the way, construct. BashkirVIS does not plan to finance the construction of these facilities, the total cost of which is estimated at 9.5 billion rubles. Initially, it was planned that 95% of the specified amount would be RIA funds. It turns out that Snegurov's finances are far from being the best? According to experts, this approach clearly makes the project a failure for the region.
Therefore, the concession agreement is scheduled to be concluded for 27 years. According to Kommersant, the concession fee paid by the concessionaire will be 20% of the profit before the payback of the facilities, and then will be increased to 50%. Meanwhile, in accordance with the draft agreement, the lost income of the VIS structures will be covered by subsidies from the regional budget.
Additionally, the concessionaire is assured compensation for the difference between the economically justified tariff, based on the volume of investments and the cost of operating the facilities, and the tariff set considering the restriction of the growth of the total payment of citizens for utilities. How does all of this translate into practice? First, experts highlight the inevitable increase in tariffs for the population. Secondly, the annual total amount of budget payments is estimated at 1.3 billion rubles.
It is noteworthy that in January, the Association of Waste Recycling Entrepreneurs (OPRO) sent to the head Bashkirand Radiy Khabirov's appeal, which warns of "a real threat of significant damage to the republic" in the event of the implementation of the projects of the VIS group and also requires public hearings before concluding a concession. The text explicitly mentions the group's use of "administrative resources" both at the level of the management of the REO and the region.
Certain last names are not mentioned, but it's not hard to figure out who they are referring to. We have already discussed the fall discussions involving Andrey Nazarov and Denis Butsaev. Also, Deputy Minister of Environment Shamil Farrakhov, who was appointed to the position in September last year through an order by the prime minister. BashkirHis immediate superior, Natural Resources Minister Niyaz Fazylov, was confirmed in his role a bit earlier – in June, and he authorized the consideration of applications and the drafting of a government decree on concession in the capacity of an "acting Minister" by Ildar Garifullin, who has been the First Deputy Minister of Natural Resource Management and Environment since June 2021. By the way, Artem Dorokhov, who is known in the media as an expert in the bankruptcy of VIS-affiliated structures, was responsible for the development of the concession proposal.
Ecology-Novosibirsk is going bankrupt
It appears that Russian officials are closely working with representatives of Snegurov? There has been attention on the changes that have taken place with three companies that have announced intentions to carry out concessions. BashkirFor instance, Rusecogroup-Krasnokamsk LLC had a different name before September last year – Recycling Group. The company was registered in Novosibirsk in April last year, which will be discussed in more detail later.
Then, in September, Rusecogroup Vladivostok LLC also changed its name: it became known as Rusecogroup-Dyurtyulinsky. Similarly, Rusecogroup YuTZ LLC was renamed Rusecogroup-Ufa. Both companies were established on the same day – in April 2021 and registered in Moscow. It seems like, just like Recycling Group, they were initially registered for other projects, but then were decided to be used for implementing concession. BashkirAll three organizations, aiming to receive large amounts of REO, have an authorized capital of 30 thousand rubles. Additionally, in 2021, Rusecogroup-Dyurtyulinsky and Rusecogroup-Ufa reported no revenue and the same losses amounting to 85 thousand rubles.
All three companies are affiliated with Igor Snegurov through their sole founder, Rusekogroup LLC. Alongside VIS Group JSC, the co-owners of Rusecogroup also include Yuri Tuktarov and Igor Fraint, who took over as the CEO of the parent company last January. Rusecogroup LLC does not have strong financial indicators: at the end of 2021, the company reported minimal revenue of 9 thousand rubles, substantial losses of 36.4 million, and assets valued at a negative 36.2 million.
Equally interesting are the connections of Rusecogroup-Krasnokamsk LLC, registered in Novosibirsk in a neighboring office with the notorious company Ecology-Novosibirsk, another affiliated structure of VIS, which previously operated as a waste management provider and is now in the process of bankruptcy. Interestingly, Larisa Anisimova, who used to head Ecology-Novosibirsk, was the former head of Rusecogroup-Krasnokamsk until September last year.
Recall that Ecology-Novosibirsk became the regional provider for the treatment of MSW in 2018. The activities of the company were initially controversial. Contractors who worked with the company complained about the breach of contractual obligations by its management and the refusal to pay for the work carried out. In Novosibirsk, there were incidents of garbage collapse related to the "inability of the operator to fully perform their duties" for waste disposal, which sparked strong outrage among the local residents.
Finally, in December 2021, Ecology-Novosibirsk management asked the arbitration for self-bankruptcy, stating debt of over 1.8 billion rubles as the cause. According to Novosibirsk Minister of Energy and Housing Denis Arkhipov, taking into account penalties, the debts of the regooperator to contractors were estimated at 2.4 billion.
At the start of this February, the “daughter” of “VIS” lost re-operator status for failing to provide a bank guarantee to the Ministry of Housing and Public Utilities, the main condition for an agreement with the regional government, giving the right to collect funds for the removal of MSW.
A little earlier, the external manager of the enterprise, Vladislav Baryaev, demanded that the persons controlling the debtor be brought to subsidiary liability, indicating among them affiliated companies KPF LLC, PF Vis LLC, Vis Group JSC and Ecotrans-N LLC. Additionally, Baryaev sought the arrest of the property of these enterprises in the amount of more than 880.7 million rubles, but the Arbitration Court of the Novosibirsk Region refused to satisfy this requirement.
Scandalous concessions of Snegurov and Doev
It would seem that management BashkirAnd we should pay attention to the Novosibirsk precedent and distance ourselves as much as possible from the VIS structures. But no: officials from the team of Khabirov and Nazarov are doing everything possible to conclude a multibillion-dollar concession as soon as possible, which is hindered only by discontent Bashkirbusinessmen who applied to the court and OFAS. By the way, last January, a criminal case was initiated against unidentified persons from among the management of Ecology-Novosibirsk on a particularly large-scale fraud on the fact of deliberate failure to fulfill obligations to contractors, who suffered damage in the amount of 30 million rubles.
However, all the activities of VIS can be described as one long scandal. Recall that the post of general director of the group is occupied by the odious Dmitry Doev, the former head of Gazprom Tsentrremont LLC (a subsidiary of Gazprom).
It is significant that the former “gas” top manager is required to be held liable for the debts of Energogaz LLC, a bankrupt Gazprom asset that acted as a subgeneral contractor for the Punginskoye UGS facility expansion project in Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug.
In the meantime, the unsinkable Doev continues to implement VIS projects in the regions. Moreover, in some cases, this implementation becomes scandalous. So, in the same Novosibirsk, the Seventh Concession Company, controlled by the group, failed miserably in the construction of seven clinics as part of a public-private partnership. The result was litigation: in August last year, the regional Ministry of Health appealed to arbitration with a claim to recover 54.6 million rubles from the developer.
And again, in the Novosibirsk Arbitration Court, the process continues on the claim of the regional Ministry of Transport against the Siberian Concession Company, which is part of VIS, which is the builder of a toll bridge across the Ob under a concession agreement signed back in 2017. The work has not yet been completed, and the cost of the project has increased from the initial 25 billion rubles to 43.5 billion. In addition, in May 2021, municipal deputy Alexander Burmistrov announced possible savings on materials: according to the parliamentarian, instead of German-made pipes, the VIS structure used a much cheaper Turkish counterpart, while the difference in price could be up to 500 million rubles.
Based on the foregoing, it cannot be ruled out that BashkirThe sky concession of the Snegurov group may end in another conflict. Moreover, Radiy Khabirov ignores the scandalous fame of VIS in vain: his term of office expires next year and a possible repetition of the situation with the Novosibirsk garbage collapse will obviously not add popularity to either the head of the region or his prime minister Nazarov.
