Group DF pleaded not guilty
Group DF stated that the allegations by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine of abuse of the monopoly position in the nitrogen fertilizer market were false.
According to its press release, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine, without holding hearings, without considering the comments of the interested parties and without taking into account the expert conclusions, announced preliminary findings of the investigation regarding Group DF enterprises and virtually presented them as definitive verdicts.
Group DF believes that the findings of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine regarding its enterprises are deliberately based on inaccurate evidence.
Gas was sold at the same price as it was initially procured. And the gas price was 25-50% lower than recommended by the National Regulatory Commission. Even in these circumstances, however, Group DF enterprises could not compete with the Russian gas imports.
The halt in fertilizer production in March 2017 was due to the gas supply interruption by gas transportation organizations. The formal reason for the shutdown was a minor regular current debt for transportation.
As a result of the cease in gas supply the plans to produce over 800 thousand tons of nitrogen fertilizers in the spring season of 2017 were disrupted. And this volume was covered with the imports from Russia.
Between January and May 2017, Group DF took a number of measures to resume production. Its enterprises sent multiple official appeals to the government and departments of Ukraine.
Group DF regards the actions of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine as an attempt to administratively redistribute the property and to violate its corporate rights.
