State budget received nearly UAH 750 mln dividends from gas producer Ukrnaftoburinnya in 2023
MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - Ukrnafta transferred UAH 748 million in dividends from the activity of gas producer Ukrnaftoburinnya (UNB) to the state budget in 2023, Ukrainian media reported, quoting the company's press office.
The Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) said the management agreement with Ukrnafta stated that 90% of UNB's profit must be paid into the budget.
Ukrnafta said UNB received net profit of UAH 186 million in the period January 1-July 12, 2023, and UAH 831 million in the period July 13-December 31 after being transferred to the management of Ukrnafta. UNB also ramped up average daily gas, condensate and oil production.
But the improvement in results was interrupted by a court ruling at the end of November 2023 to cancel the company's special license to develop the Sakhalinskoye field.
"UNB filed court action and is doing all it can to resume gas production, since this is critical for the country to get through the next heating season. The case is currently being considered," the press service said.
The Sixth Appellate Administrative Court on November 28 repealed a Ukrainian Geological Survey (UGS) order and annulled special permit dated July 10, 2019, on the basis of which UNB produced gas at the Sakhalinskoye gas condensate field. The company halted operations at the field on December 1.
The UGS said the litigation began due to a letter from the State Bureau of Investigation, but the latter said it had not asked for UNB's special permit to be canceled.
The consideration of the case to review the cancellation of the permit for the Sakhalin field due to new circumstances is scheduled for August 6, 2024.
According to UNB, as a result of the suspension of production at the Sakhalin field, monthly losses amount to about 50 million cubic meters of gas and 5,200 tonnes of condensate, and the company's industrial and commercial activity in 2024 could bring the state UAH 10 billion in taxes and dividends.
UNB, one of Ukraine's largest privately owned gas producers, has been developing the Sakhalinskoye field in the Kharkov region's Krasnokutsky district with reserves of 15 billion cubic meters since 2010.