Due to the long-term systemic crisis in the energy sector of Ukraine, 10 mines and auxiliary
enterprises of DTEK Pavlogradugol association, Pavlograds’ka,
Dobropil’s’ka, Kurahivs’ka concentrating mills as well as Pershotravenskyi Repair and Engineering Plant and DTEK
Research and Development Center will suspend coal mining and enrichment from April 20,
preparation of mine workings as well as the repair of mining equipment. Enterprises
shall switch to the “life support” mode, and employees will be taken out of service and will be
paid according to the collective agreement.
The systemic crisis in the energy sector of Ukraine, which has continued since last year, has led to
imbalance in the energy system of Ukraine. Manual regulation of the market, ill-considered decisions,
and the lack of industry coordination have completely destabilized the operation of all coal enterprises. Due to
uncontrolled imports of electricity from Russia and Belarus, the demand for domestic
electricity and, as a result, the amount of coal consumed at the plants has decreased. TPP warehouses and
mines have accumulated over 2,900,000 tons of non-demanded coal. Operation of about 30 coal mines
has been suspended throughout the country, more than 40 thousand people have been taken out of service. Damage to thermal generation
over the past six months is UAH 310,000,000. All TPPs operate below the minimum composition, about
50 % of employees have been taken out of service.
The negative situation is exacerbated by the general economic decline and coronavirus pandemic.
Due to quarantine, electricity consumption in the country has reduced, electricity production volumes
and the level of payments have reduced.
Due to the lack of demand for domestic electricity, earlier DTEK Energy was already forced to
suspend operation of 5 mines of DTEK Dobropolyeugol, Bilozerska Mine and Oktyabrska CEP. But as
the situation is becoming more critical, it was decided to suspend operation of DTEK
Pavlogradugol, three more concentrating mills, Pershotravenskyi Repair and Engineering Plant, and DTEK Research and Development Center.
From April 20, about 18,700 employees of mines, auxiliary enterprises, factories, and the plant will be
taken out of service. Other staff will provide maintenance of
enterprises: ventilation of mine workings, pumping out water, and maintenance of production. This
will allow to quickly resume operation of enterprises when the situation in the industry changes.
According to the Industry Agreement and collective agreements, all employees taken out of service
will continue to receive income in the amount of the tariff rate, while maintaining their work experience.