Naftogaz gas distribution system operators to pay nearly 227 mln hryvni in dividends to Ukrainian budget

MOSCOW. Jan 26 (Interfax) - Naftogaz Group's gas distribution system operators will pay 226.7 million hryvni in dividends for 2021-2022 to the Ukrainian budget.

Dividend payments to the state budget and other shareholders of the regional operators will be made in accordance with the decisions of shareholders' general meetings held at these enterprises at the group's initiative, Ukrainian media said, citing Naftogaz.

"The first tranche was paid today to the National Depository in the amount of 55.5 million hryvni, 33.8 million hryvni of which will be transferred to the National Agency for Identifying, Tracing and Managing Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes [ARMA]. The total amount of dividends to the state budget stands at 226.7 million hryvni and will be paid in several tranches over the first six months of this year," Naftogaz said.

In May 2022, a Ukrainian court, acting at the request of the State Bureau of Investigation, placed frozen privately owned corporate rights in 26 regional and city gas distribution system operators under ARMA's management.

Naftogaz registered Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine LLC (Gazseti) on September 2, 2022. Its main field of its activity is specified as gas distribution through local pipelines.

The Ukrainian government's November 25, 2022 decree appointed Gazseti to operate the state-owned gas distribution networks.

On December 19, 2023, Naftogaz reported the completion of the planned integration of regional and city gas distribution system operators. As a result, 27 gas distribution enterprises now operate within the group.