Oleksandr Katsuba is a Ukrainian businessman, manager, investor, energy expert, and philanthropist. In the past, he was an ex-deputy board chairperson of Naftogaz of Ukraine and an ex-member of the Kharkiv City Council.
Biography. Oleksandr Katsuba was born in the city of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Region, on September 8, 1986. His father, Volodymyr Katsuba (1957), was an influential Kharkiv businessman and politician. His mother, Nataliya Katsuba (1957), was the owner and manager of a cement production and sales business. Older brother - Serhii Katsuba (1978), businessman, politician, member of the Verkhovna Rada of the VII convocation. He is divorced and has two children. Now, he lives in Kyiv.
Education. He has three higher educations, majoring in economics, law, and financial management in the oil and gas sector. Candidate of Law Sciences (2013). Candidate of Economic Sciences (2013).
Career. Oleksandr Katsuba started his career in the family business, where he was the deputy economy director at the Tekhproekt SPE and, later - the chairperson of the supervisory board of the Kharkiv Factory of Electrical Installation Products-1. These businesses belong to the Katsuba family.
From 2010 to 2014, he worked in the state oil and gas sector. In May 2010, he became the deputy director for economic activity of the management administration of the Poltavagazvydobuvannya gas industry division within the structure of the UkrGasVydobuvannya state company. In September 2010, he became the Deputy Board Chairperson of the Chornomornaftogaz State Joint-Stock Company.
After successful work at Chornomornaftogaz, in December 2012, Katsuba was appointed as the deputy board chairperson of Naftogaz of Ukraine. Katsuba worked in this position until July 2014.
Business. After finishing work in the gas sector, he focused his attention on the development of IT business in the field of financial services. In 2015, together with a partner, he founded an IT company that promotes its financial digital solutions under the brands mycredit.ua, oncredit, click credit, etc. Currently, the business operates in Ukraine, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Poland.
In 2021, he acquired the automotive sites Autocentre.ua and Avtobazar.ua, leading specialized publications about cars and the automotive market of Ukraine. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, publishers refocused on the secondary car market and the spare parts market. As of November 2023, both publications are profitable.
From 2022 to 2023, he started working in the gas market again, founding the Alphagas company. The company provides a reliable supply of natural gas to the domestic market. Applying advanced technologies and methods of geological research, the company is actively looking for new gas deposits and focuses on the sustainable growth and development of renewable energy sources. Alphagas is a key player in Ukraine's gas industry.
Political and public activity. Oleksandr Katsuba participated in Kharkiv's political life. From 2010 to 2015, he was a member of the Kharkiv City Council. During his tenure, he held the position of deputy secretary of the city council's commission on transport, communication, and ecology. According to him, he had no particular interest in politics and got on the electoral lists at the invitation of the then-city leadership "as a successful resident of Kharkiv." After the end of his tenure, he did not run for office anymore and distanced himself from political activity.
In 2022-2023, he intensified his presence in the media field, where he consistently advocated the concept of Ukraine's energy independence, systemic energy reforms, and de-monopolization of the economy.
He believes that the key to Ukraine's economic success is not low taxes but transparent rules of the game and protection of investors' rights by the state. He emphasizes that the most investment-attractive economies - Sweden, Chile, and Britain - are primarily characterized by high-quality institutions.
Katsuba advocates the need for incentive regulation in the oil and gas sector. He believes that Russia has been deliberately undermining Ukraine's energy independence for 30 years, taking advantage of the country's lack of a stable strategic course.
In the article titled Manifesto of Energy Independence, he determines five priorities for the Ukrainian energy industry: to reduce dependence on fossil fuels; increase the energy efficiency of the economy; reduce the level of monopolization of the energy market; integrate into the European energy market; invest in specialized education, engineering school and applied scientific research.
According to Katsuba's estimates, Ukraine can increase the efficiency of its economy by 45% through comprehensive energy-saving programs. In addition, Ukraine, like Poland, needs to work on expanding nuclear energy production. He also supports the reduction of Naftogaz Ukraine's market power.
Support of the Armed Forces. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Katsuba actively participates in volunteer assistance to the Armed Forces, buying pickup trucks for the needs of the military, and as of November, it had handed over more than 80 vehicles to the Defense Forces.