The shift in regional electricity supplies comes as Kolenergosbyt looses its status as so-called guaranteed supplier to the region. Kolenergosbyt has for months been on the verge of collapse following mounting debts and allegations of large-scale corruption.
As previously reported, the company has over a longer period been unable to meet any of its financial commitments to TGK-1 and Rosenergoatom, the two main electricity producers in the region and has accumulated a debt of more than a billion rubles.
The previous leader of Kolenergosbyt, Gennady Shubin, is now behind bars on suspicion of fraud of up to 150 million RUB. Together with several other people associated with the company, Shubin is believed to have inflicted damage to consumers of more than 1 billion RUB. Shubin has also worked as adviser to the regional governor. Among the other people involved in the scandal is Ruslan Chervyakov, leader of the Kolenergosbyt’s management company KPES Alians.
MRSK Severo-Zapad is taking over the position as the main electricity supplier to the region from 1 March, the company informs in a press release. The company does not intend to alter electricity tariffs, newspaper Murmansky Vestnik reports. It will be MRSK Severo-Zapad’s unit in Murmansk, the Kolenergo company, which will take on the new obligations.
In connection with its new role, the company might invite into its staff as many as 300 of the employees of Kolenergosbyt, Flashnord.ru reports.
Murmansk Oblast has for decades been a surplus producer of electricity because of its hydropower capacities and the Kola NPP. However, the region is challenged by an aging grid and supply system.
