American LTI of Fedir Zakusylo may supply Chinese pipes to UGV for the first time in 6 years

The American company Liberty Tool International (LTI) has won tenders of the state-owned Ukrgasvydobuvannya JSC (UGV) of the Naftogaz Group for the supply of seamless casing pipes for the first time in 6 years (since 2019), as reported in ExPro Gas&Oil Monthly.

The company won two tenders for a total amount of UAH 1.74 billion (incl. VAT), and in both tenders, Liberty Tool International won after the proposals of competitors were rejected or cancelled.

UGV auctions

The first auction was held at the end of September 2025. UGV purchased 279.1 thousand meters of seamless casing pipes with an outer diameter of 244.48 mm with a "Premium" class threaded coupling connection. The lowest proposal was submitted by Naftoservis LLC, but it was rejected because, according to UGV, the company did not provide security, and the tender proposal did not meet the conditions of the technical specification. Thus, Liberty Tool International became the winner with a proposal of UAH 1.565 billion (incl. VAT). The company is awaiting the signing of the contract with UGV.

Interpipe Ukraine filed a complaint about this procurement to the AMCU, but it was rejected. In addition, the State Audit Service of Ukraine (SASU) began monitoring the procurement procedure in early December.

The other auction was held at the end of August 2025. UGV purchased 13.64 thousand meters of seamless or electric-welded casing pipes with an outer diameter of 508 mm with a Buttress threaded coupling connection. 5 companies participated in the auction, among which Steels Ukraine LLC won, which was already awaiting the signing of the contract with UGV.

Complaints to AMCU

However, Liberty Tool International filed a complaint to the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU), stating that the subject of procurement was not just pipes, but pipes with a threaded coupling connection, however, Steels Ukraine did not provide a certificate of mill tests and coupling verification in its proposal. The AMCU rejected Liberty Tool International's complaint.

Another complaint to the AMCU was filed by Dnipro Pipe Plant, which was also among the procurement participants. In early December, the AMCU accepted the complaint for consideration, but there is no decision yet.

Ukrgasvydobuvannya rejected the proposal of Steels Ukraine and the intention to conclude a contract with the company. Thus, UGV chose the next contender with the lowest proposal - Liberty Tool International with UAH 173.9 million (incl. VAT). The signing of the contract is currently expected. Thus, currently, Liberty Tool International is awaiting the signing of a contract for two UGV tenders for a total amount of UAH 1.74 billion (incl. VAT). However, intentions to conclude a contract do not yet mean a final decision.

Questions about customs duties

At the end of November, several media outlets reported that the firm could have indicated unreliable data in the tender documentation with intentions to supply pipes of Chinese production manufactured by Henyang Valin Steel Tube Co., Ltd. for UGV.

Thus, according to media reports, the company indicated that a zero rate of anti-dumping duty applies to the Chinese pipes it proposed. In May 2020, Ukraine introduced anti-dumping duties on the import of steel pipes from China at the level of 51.52% of the customs value. Only direct manufacturers of the Henyan Valin group and Tianjin Pipe Corporation were allowed to import at a 0% rate. In December 2021, intermediaries – American Vorex LLC and Hong Kong SGMC Limited – were additionally added to the list of companies with a 0% duty rate.

The validity of the duties expired in May 2025, but the Interdepartmental Commission decided to extend the review of anti-dumping measures regarding the import of pipes from China, so the validity of the duties was extended.

Who is Liberty Tool International?

According to media data, the company Liberty Tool International belongs to Fedir Zakusylo, who has dual citizenship – of Ukraine and the USA. Liberty Tool International is an active participant in tenders of state companies but rarely wins. The last time the company won a tender for the supply of pipes for UGV was back in 2019.

Fedir Zakusylo also has another company with American registration – Vorex LLC, which also actively participated in the supply of Chinese pipes for UGV. Vorex LLC was the main competitor of Ukrainian Interpipe, which is the largest supplier of goods for the Naftogaz Group.

As ExPro reported in 2024, Vorex LLC blocked procurement of casing pipes by Ukrgasvydobuvannya, where Interpipe or other companies won, which put the drilling program of the state company at risk of disruption.

Where to find natural gas market analytics?

Detailed analytics of the natural gas market in Ukraine, including production, imports, exports, UGS reserves, trading results, natural gas prices, key news, etc., are published in specialized publications ExPro Daily Gas, ExPro Gas&Oil Weekly, and ExPro Gas&Oil Monthly.

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