Ukraine seeks direct gas supplies from Russia

In January and February 2007 Ukraine imported 11.076 billion cubic meters of natural gas, according to official estimates. 8.648 billion cubic meters was imported from Central Asia, including 7.148 billion cubic meters from Turkmenistan, 848 million cubic meters from Kazakhstan, and 653 million cubic meters from Uzbekistan. From Russia, Ukraine imported 2.428 billion cubic meters, RBC Ukraine reported.

In February, Ukraine imported 5.569 billion cubic meters of natural gas, including 4.489 billion from Central Asia and 1.08 billion from Russia.

Ukrainian companies used 1.253 billion cubic meters of natural gas for industrial and technological needs in January and February 2007.

The Ukrainian-Russian RosUkrEnergo transported 2.243 billion cubic meters of gas through Ukraine, including 775.924 million cubic meters in February. This is 1.343 billion cubic meters more than planned. From January to April 2006, the company transported 2.626 billion cubic meters of gas through Ukraine.

RosUkrEnergo (RUE) is Ukraine’s sole supplier of imported gas, selling it through Ukrgaz-Energo, a joint venture with Neftegaz Ukrainy. According to the latest agreements between RUE and Ukrgaz-Energo dated 24 October 2006, Ukraine shall buy natural gas at $130 per 1,000 cubic meters from 2006 to 2010, up from the previous price of $95. Still, $130 is not too much compared to Europe’s average price of $250 per 1,000 cubic meters.

But Ukrainian officials are not quite happy. Andrei Klyuyev, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for fuel and energy, said last month that the Ukrainian government was seeking direct contracts between Neftegaz Ukrainy and Russian gas giant Gazrpom. “We are in talks with Gazprom to return to the contracts signed back in 2003 and 2004. We think there is a need for a direct contract between Neftegaz Ukrainy and Gazprom,” Klyueyev said.

(Source: www.rbc.ru)