DTEK Dobropilske and Bilozerske coalmines and Oktyabrska enrichment plant suspend operations in coal mining, beneficiation and mine working development from April 1 due to a systemic crisis in the Ukrainian energy industry, continuing import of electricity and regular interference by politicians in the market, DTEK Energy has said.
“The systemic crisis in the energy industry of Ukraine, provoked by manual regulation of the energy market, uncontrolled import of electricity from Russia and Belarus, as well as the lack of coordination of the industry by the Ministry of Energy and Environment Protection caused imbalance of the Ukrainian energy system and the impossibility of stable operation of coal enterprises,” the company said in a statement on March 27.
DTEK Energy said that such situation led to a lack of demand for Ukrainian coal.
The company said that it has repeatedly appealed to NEC Ukrenergo, the systemic operator, to stop the forceful halt of power units of thermal power plants (TPP), but, despite the existence of agreements on the electricity production, Ukrenergo systematically reduces the production of TPPs of the company to one power unit, which threatens the stable operation of TPPs and significantly reduces the amount of coal consumed.
In connection with the suspension of the enterprises, more than 6,500 personnel from the general staff being more than 8,000 have to suspend work. During idle time, the remaining employees will continue the maintenance of the mines and the plant, which will allow quickly restore the work of enterprises, DTEK Energy said.
In accordance with the industry agreements and collective contracts, all employees who suspend working will get their salaries. Within idle time, miners will continue receiving salaries in the amount of the rewards foreseen for labor remuneration, their employment history will not be terminated, and DTEK Energy will do everything possible so the enterprises can resume normal operation.
