Amid the energy crisis, the need to reduce costs, and constant calls for transparency, one of Energoatom's branches has found itself at the center of another scandal. The branch of the Private Enterprise "Business Management" purchased three Hyundai Staria minivans for a total of UAH 6.81 million, without a single competitor at the auction.
On November 13, no other participant appeared at the open auction, so Energoatom automatically concluded an agreement with Olimp Motor LLC. Among the three ordered cars, one item caused a special resonance: a black all-wheel drive Hyundai Staria 7-Top + Bronze package worth UAH 2.61 million.
This is actually a VIP shuttle: a 177 hp diesel engine, all-round cameras, BOSE multimedia with 11 speakers and a subwoofer, heating, premium LED optics, multi-color interior lighting and an extended package of electronic security systems.
The Bronze package adds even more “luxury”: Nappa leather, alloy wheels with a special coating, chrome details and additional decor elements.
Choosing the top-of-the-line configuration at a time when the industry needs savings at all levels seems at least dissonant. Procurement without competition is a classic risk of overpricing, lack of control, and possible supplier lobbying.
The purchase of luxury minivans for the “business management” of a state-owned company operating critical infrastructure raises questions about the feasibility and priorities of spending. According to experts, such spending is difficult to justify when the energy sector is constantly under pressure from threats and budget deficits.
A special note is drawn to the provision in the contract: if the buyer ("Energoatom") delays payment, no fines or penalties are provided for him. This creates excessively comfortable and unusually "soft" conditions for the customer company, and for the supplier - exceptionally convenient and risk-free. Such a construction is atypical for public procurement and looks suspicious.
This episode fits into a long list of issues facing Energoatom: the choice of suppliers, the formality of competition, suspicious contract terms, and the lack of strategic savings. Purchases worth millions of hryvnias in VIP configurations are yet another indication that inefficiency and internal abuse can occur even in small tenders, let alone large-scale projects.
While the state is saving money and citizens are living in conditions of energy stress, questions about the feasibility of such purchases seem more than justified.
