Group DF refutes Yatseniuk's accusations of company's intention to bankrupt Odessa Port Plant
Group DF refutes Yatseniuk's accusations of company's intention to bankrupt Odessa Port Plant
KYIV. July 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The accusations of Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk on the alleged intention of Group DF, which combines the assets of businessman Dmytro Firtash, to bankrupt State Odessa Port Plant are lies, according to a statement released by Group DF on Wednesday.
"We confirm that the plant's debt only to Ostchem, Group's chemical business, amounts to $193.26 million. We're saying, with respect, that in spite of the huge debts of the plant to the Group, we have never considered the issue, nor taken any steps aimed at bankrupting the plant," the group said.
According to the statement, Group DF considers Odessa Port Plant to be a key partner of the Group in chemistry sector. The group is going to participate in the plant's privatization if there are open, transparent and fair bids.
"We consider Mr. Yatseniuk's slander to be the continuation of politically motivated persecution of our business, as well as an attempt to discredit the Group as one of the strongest participants in the announced provocation of Odessa Port Plant," Group DF said.
As reported, on July 7 Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said that Ostchem of Group DF had sold overpriced natural gas to Odesa port-side chemical plant to bring it to bankruptcy, and as a result the Interior Ministry opened criminal proceedings.
"This is the group of Yanukovych-Firtash-Liovochkin. Damage to the state was inflicted, and the Interior Ministry began criminal proceedings," Yatseniuk said.
The prime minister said that natural gas belonging to Ostchem and stored in Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities was arrested, and Naftogaz Ukrainy Head Andriy Kobolev added that the debt of the Ostchem companies to Naftogaz, taking into account fines and penalties, is about 6 billion cubic meters.
"I ask the Interior Ministry to complete the procedure of debt repayment," Yatseniuk said.
State-owned Odesa port-side chemical plant is engaged in the production of chemical products, as well as ammonia transshipment by sea.
The government announced its plans to privatize the plant in 2015.
