Government’s statements on possible rolling blackouts are blackmailing the Ukrainians and serving the interests of one oligarch, who does not want to stop trading with the occupants. The member of the “Ukrainian Patriots Association – UKROP” presidium, MP Oleksandr Dubinin said it commenting on to the journalists.
“If the authorities intend to fall back on blackouts, they should start with themselves – with the building of the Cabinet of Ministers, Presidential Administration and the Verkhovna Rada,” said Oleksandr Dubinin.
The MP is convinced that rolling blackouts, which allegedly may be caused by blockade of coal supplies from the occupied territories, is not a necessary step. The fact is that the thermal power stations currently produce around 46% of electricity in Ukraine, 42% of which is generated with coal of anthracite group. The deficit of coal is about 33% of the demand, which is only 5% of total electricity production. At the same time this is the amount of electricity Ukraine exports abroad today. “What rolling blackouts? What are we talking about?” outraged the politician.
According to Oleksandr Dubinin, energy headquarters, which is planned to be created by the government in order to consider the appropriateness of the state of emergency in the energy sector, had to start working three years ago, when it became clear that the anti-terrorist operation could last for years. In the same way the government had to foresee formation of economic, transport and food headquarters and develop measures for Ukraine’s switching to war economy.
Instead of this in the current situation the energy headquarters should consider only the question of DTEK activity, as the company uses coal from the occupied territories and resorts to blackmailing the Ukrainians through the Cabinet of Ministers. If the enterprises controlled by Rinat Akhmetov cannot diversify energy supplies, the government should make decision on introduction of temporary administration to these companies, is convinced the representative of UKROP.
“The whole country cannot suffer because of one oligarch. DTEK should explain their pricing and provide diversification of coal supplies. Otherwise the government should make decision on introducing temporary management to all mines, power plants and energy companies of DTEK. The authorities should deal with the situation with these companies,” said the MP.
Oleksandr Dubinin also added that the government had wasted a lot of time and money, and had not ensured Ukraine’s energy independence. “We need to make tough conclusions, in particular concerning those managers, who during three years have not even lifted a finger for Ukraine’s energy, transport and food security. This concerns not only the uncontrolled areas of Donbas, but also the Crimea,” is convinced the politician.
