The state energy giant Centrenergo has found itself at the center of a scandal — and wants no one to know about it. Mentions are disappearing from the internet about how the company paid 132 million hryvnias to the dubious firm Teplosfera UA, which failed to fulfill the contract and did not return the money. We are publishing the investigation they are trying so hard to conceal.
PJSC “Centrenergo” paid a private company 132 million UAH as an advance under a coal supply contract. The company failed to fulfill its obligations – and did not return the money either.
This is reported in a Bihus.Info story, citing court case materials.
PJSC “Centrenergo” is one of the largest energy companies in the country, engaged in the production of electricity and thermal energy. The enterprise is 78% state-owned and manages the Trypilska, Zmiivska, and Vuhlehirska thermal power plants (TPPs). The stations operate on coal, making its procurement one of the key tasks for PJSC.
In September 2024, “Centrenergo” signed an agreement with LLC “Teplosfera UA” for the supply of 33,500 tons of coal for the Trypilska and Zmiivska TPPs. The agreement was concluded under a simplified procedure without an open tender, as it concerned ensuring coal supply for the heating season. The company was paid an advance of 132 million UAH, but it breached the schedule, delivered only 1,500 tons, and did not return the remaining unused advance. “Centrenergo” filed a lawsuit, and the court issued a decision – to recover 127 million UAH from the company (the debt itself, penalties, interest, etc.).
At the same time, during the case review, the judge uncovered a number of circumstances that cast doubt on the integrity of not only the supplier but also “Centrenergo” itself, and even the entire coal procurement system for TPPs as such. The judge outlined these circumstances in a separate ruling.
In particular, it was established that the advance payment was not mandatory – the contract stipulated payment after delivery. An advance could be provided only if the supplier offered guarantees, but instead of a bank guarantee, the supplier provided just a letter that had no legal weight and secured nothing. Additionally, during the trial, “Centrenergo” claimed that it had entered into an agreement with a private company because state coal producers allegedly had no coal available. However, upon requesting further explanations, the court discovered that “Teplosfera” was purchasing coal precisely from state producers. Moreover, the intermediary signed agreements with the producers only after the contract with “Centrenergo,” after the guarantee letter, and even after part of the advance payment. Thus, at the time of signing the contract, “Centrenergo” had neither a financial safeguard nor a guarantee of receiving the coal at all. Ultimately, upon finding that the price at which the company purchased coal from mines was equal to the price at which it sold it to “Centrenergo,” the judge concluded that the lack of commercial logic might indicate the supplier’s intent not to fulfill the contract but simply to misappropriate the advance funds.
The judge classified everything uncovered as a systemic flaw in the operations of “Centrenergo” as a whole and therefore issued a separate ruling to the Cabinet of Ministers: to regulate procurement procedures and the associated risks, with a particular emphasis on the fact that state coal for state energy companies should ideally be purchased directly. However, the Ministry of Energy responded that the country operates under free economic competition, which it cannot restrict.
The owner of LLC “Teplosfera UA” is Ihor Kachmar, who until recently was also a co-owner of another problematic supplier – LLC “Energo Resurs Group.” This company also received a large advance but delivered some coal of inadequate quality, and now, by court decision, must return 240 million UAH to “Centrenergo.” Additionally, according to the court registry, another supplier – LLC “Optenergotorg” – owes “Centrenergo” 77 million UAH. This company delivered less than half of the promised coal and, similarly to “Teplosfera,” did not return the remaining advance.
