UAC participants from the Kherson region are sounding the alarm over the project of providing energy services for pumping stations of the irrigation system, which is being implemented by the State Water Agency together with the State Agency for Energy Efficiency of Ukraine.

“Analysis of already concluded energy service contracts and tender proposals shows opacity in purchases of services, unreasonableness and inexpediency of concluding contracts. After all, the introduction of energy service under the prescribed conditions does not lead to cheaper irrigation services, but on the contrary - falls on the shoulders of farmers for several years, " UAC member, Chairman of the Water Users Association (WUA) Volodymyr Khvostov says.

Thus, the companies that won and started to provide energy service to pumping stations are unknown in the Ukrainian market and have not established themselves as conscientious specialists in the field of energy service. Moreover, it turned out that one of the winners of the tender in the Kherson region is LLC "ESCO-EXPERT" – it’s opened enforcement proceedings against them to collect debts, which could lead to the dismantling of equipment and complete cessation of irrigation.

In addition, the amount of payments in favor of energy service companies under already concluded contracts averages UAH 12 - 13 million for the entire term of the contract at a real cost of UAH 2-3 million. At the same time, the actual fulfillment of the obligations of water management departments to pay for energy service is entrusted to water users.

At the same time, the terms of the concluded contracts are from 12 to 15 years. At the end of their operation, the equipment will be technologically obsolete. The pumping station will need to be re-equipped.

Currently, the energy service process has been suspended and the procedure of checking the validity and expediency of the procurement has been started.

Farmers, in turn, appealed to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine to cancel the already held tenders for energy services and terminate energy service agreements because they cause economic damage to the state.