The group of people suspected in the Rotterdam+ case has been identified.
On January 16, NABU and SAPO completed an investigation involving 15 people believed to be involved in the illegal overpayment of more than UAH 20 billion from 2018-2019 due to the 'Rotterdam +' formula. EP.
This is stated in message NABU.
“This is the second part of a large investigation by anti-corruption authorities, which was uncovered in October 2022. The investigation of the first part, involving six individuals and the illegal overpayment of more than UAH 19 billion from 2016-2017, was finished in September 2022.“ the message says.
It is stressed that the group of suspects in the new part includes:
- 2 former leaders of the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Energy and Utilities (NEURC);
- 6 former members of NEURC;
- 2 current members of NEURC;
- 1 current and 2 former employees of NEURC;
- 2 present officials of a group of private heat generating companies.
“Six of these individuals, who, according to the investigation, intentionally took part in the crime, received new suspicions under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The actions of the NEURC members, who, without understanding, voted for the approval of the so-called “Rotterdam +” formula, were categorized under Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The investigation believes that they improperly carried out their official duties, leading to serious consequences for the state and public interests.— stated in the position of departments.
According to investigators, the 'Rotterdam+' formula included expenses that actually didn't exist, specifically the transportation of nationally produced coal to thermal power plants from the port in Rotterdam, NABU added.
As a result, according to NABU and SAPO, end consumers overpaid more than UAH 39 billion from 2016-2019, which is confirmed by the expert’s conclusion.
“The investigation has evidence that NEURC was convinced by representatives of a group of private heat generating companies to accept such a calculation formula, which ultimately led to them making huge profits.
Initially, the regulator disagreed, understanding the absurdity of including transportation costs in the tariff, but in March 2016, they agreed to this proposal. This resulted in an increase in electricity tariffs for industry, social infrastructure facilities, entrepreneurs, which led to an increase in the cost of goods and services for the end consumer, including essentials”, the NABU reminded.
The group of suspects in the Rotterdam+ case has been determined
Recall:
In the Rotterdam+ case on suspicion reported former and current officials of the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Energy and Utilities (NEURC).
NABU and SAP 22 September completed investigation into the Rotterdam+ case and opened the materials to the defense for review.
The head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office Oleksandr Klymenko decided to cancel the decision to close the so-called Rotterdam+ case as illegal and unfounded.
At the same time, the head of the SAPO completely changed the group of prosecutors in this case “due to the ineffective implementation of supervision over the observance of laws during the pre-trial investigation.”
On May 5, 2021, the then Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova replaced the senior group of prosecutors in the Rotterdam + criminal proceedings, Vitaly Ponomarenko, who closed this proceedings three times.
On May 20, Denis Demkiv, the new senior prosecutor group, in the Rotterdam + case I decided to close it for the fourth time – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau will appeal the decision to the head of the prosecutor’s office.
In March 2016, the National Commission approved a new methodology for determining the wholesale market price for electricity. According to it, the cost of coal in the production of coal-fired generation was calculated according to the formula “the cost of coal in the port of Rotterdam plus the cost of its delivery to Ukraine.”
Due to the application of the new formula, thermal generation, including those generated by DTEK Rinat Akhmetov and the state-owned Centrenergo, began to sell electricity at a higher price.
The formula became invalid on July 1 this year due to Ukraine’s transition to a new electricity market.
August 8, 2019 NABU detectives in the Rotterdam+ case reported on suspicion of six persons, in particular, the former head of the National Commission Dmitry Vovk and Vladimir Butovsky.
According to the investigation, Vovk, by prior agreement with a group of other persons, developed and in 2016 adopted an unreasonable regulatory act, the so-called “Rotterdam + formula”.
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