According to Dagenergo, the North Caucasus branch, the Republic of Dagestan tops the list of unauthorized connections to power grids for illegal cryptocurrency mining. Throughout 2023, the energy company identified 16 cases of non-contractual and unreported electricity usage, valued at over 66 million rubles.
In addition, Rosseti Northern Caucasus revealed two instances of electricity theft for digital asset production, amounting to 6.3 million rubles in the Stavropol region and 6.6 million rubles in Kabardino-Balkaria.
Collaborating with law enforcement agencies, Rosseti Northern Caucasus successfully put an end to 19 cases of unreported electricity consumption by underground crypto farms in the past year. The total damage caused by these “black” miners to the power grid complex of the macroregion is estimated at over 79 million rubles.
In early February, a joint operation conducted by the Dagestan police from the Kizilyurt Ministry of Internal Affairs and local energy workers resulted in the discovery of an underground mining farm in the city of Kizilyurt, housing 378 mining devices.