Energy workers initially noticed a peculiar metal container near the house, emitting loud noises. This raised suspicions of a mining farm being operated at the location. Upon inspection, the police found 14 cryptocurrency mining devices inside the container.
The electric grid company estimates losses of around 2 million rubles due to this illegal operation. Consequently, a criminal case has been launched against the owners of the container, who are accused of causing substantial property damage through fraudulent means or breach of trust.
Irkutsk’s energy workers note that underground mining typically occurs in balconies, basements of apartment buildings, and utility rooms on personal properties. The miners in this energy-rich region often display creativity, with mining equipment found even in bathhouses and dog kennels.
In December, Irkutskenergosbyt reported that they filed 1,882 claims to court over the past five years. Out of these, the court ruled in favor of power engineers in 1,074 cases, awarding over 480 million rubles.
Recent proposals by Russian government officials suggest disconnecting power to miners for a minimum of 500 hours annually. This suggestion serves as an alternative to the Ministry of Energy’s proposal to increase electricity transmission tariffs for mining centers located in energy-scarce regions.