OREANDA-NEWS. DTEK has invested 1.5 billion hryvnias in sustainable development projects in 1H 2014, in particular in:social partnership with the regions of company's operations, occupational safety, environmental protection, maintenance of social facilities, and development of employees. Despite the general political and economic situation in Ukraine, the Company retained its sustainable development investments at the same level as in 1H 2013.

DTEK's social investment within the framework of the social partnership strategies amounted to over 31 million hryvnias. Funds were allocated for projects aimed at improving energy efficiency in the housing and public utilities sector, health care, supporting socially important infrastructure, developing business environment and initiatives of local communities.

In 2014, DTEK has been implementing its three-year Social Partnership Strategies with the 26 towns where its assets are located. NGOs, experts, representatives of municipalities and town councils, proactive citizens took part in the development, performance and execution control of the strategies. Social Partnership Strategies envisage that a consistent approach is applied to tackle the key issues of the areas where DTEK operates, not just pin-point solutions. This approach is essential for enhancing the efficiency of social investments, planning the sustainable development of towns and cities, improving living and working conditions for the residents and our employees.

In January, DTEK won the grand prix in the Regions Development category at the National CSR Business Case competition held by the Center for Development of Corporate Social Responsibility in 2014. The grand prize was awarded for the project on setting up Local Development Agencies in the regions where the Company operates. Furthermore, DTEK was announced the winner in the Best Contribution to the Country's Development category by editors-in-chief of Ukrainian business publications.

In 2014, DTEK allocated over 294 million hryvnias to maintain social and non-industrial assets. The largest costs are attributed to keeping the residential property on the balance sheets of our operational companies (31%), to health and recreation resorts (26%), public catering establishments (5%), sports facilities (5%), and cultural facilities (3%).

'DTEK continues financing of its social programmes in full despite the economic crisis in Ukraine and hostilities in the towns where our companies operate. It is a principal and responsible decision of the company's management. Today's situation shows that the areas that we are developing together with the towns of our operations are relevant as never before, especially due to a possibly difficult heating period to come,' says Viktoria Grib, Head of DTEK's Sustainable Development Department. 'This primary applied to energy efficiency and business environment development projects. Creating new jobs is very important now due to a large number of displaced persons coming to the cities and towns of our businesses. Understandably, in the first six months we had to reallocate part of our funds to more urgent areas. For instance, some funds were spent to buy medicines for the wounded in the zone of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO); to buy supplies for schoolchildren evacuated because of military operations to get them ready for the start of the school year; to help displaced people. We will continue providing assistance in these areas till the end of the year. All our investments are intended for peaceful purposes. We are convinced that hostilities will stop and peace will come. And all of us together will build the prosperous Ukraine.'