Government allows private gas producers to export gas, ignoring NABU warnings

Government decision on gas exports

On 7 October, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a decision allowing private gas production companies to export up to 15% of the gas delivered to the gas transmission system in the previous month. According to ExPro estimates, this opportunity could provide businesses with additional revenue of over 2 billion hryvnia per month.

Lobbying activities and interested parties

This is stated in materials regarding lobbying for changes to gas export rules and the NABU conclusion. Specifically, the Association of Gas Production Companies of Ukraine declared in its report a contact with Deputy Minister of Energy Hanna Lyhun, which took place on 30 June. During the meeting, changes to the draft resolution on gas exports were discussed.

Among the beneficiaries of such lobbying activities, the documents list several key players in the energy market:

• “DTEK Naftogaz”, owned by Rinat Akhmetov;
• “Natural Resources” from Viktor Pinchuk’s Geo Alliance group;
• “ESCO-Pivnich”, associated with the daughters of Mykola Zlochovskyi;
• “Zakhidnadraservis” of Zynoviy Kozitsky.

Anti-corruption agency’s remarks

As early as 7 July, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NABU) identified a corruption-generating factor in the draft resolution. The document provided the Ministry of Energy with the authority to form a list of companies admitted to exports, but did not establish clear selection criteria.

NABU warned that such a structure creates risks of opaque decision-making and potential abuses by officials. Therefore, the agency demanded that the document be reworked to eliminate the identified flaws.

Final government verdict

Despite the anti-corruption body’s warning, three months later the government approved the opening of gas exports for private producers.