Rosukrenergo to Pay for Ukrainian Gas
It appears Ukraine has eventually thought of the way to keep the gas price at $95 per 1,000 cu meters in the fourth quarter. The proposal that will be submitted to Gazprom one of these days advocates shifting the compensation burden of $420 million to Swiss Rosukrenergo, the common operator for gas supplies to Ukraine. In Gazprom, they don’t rule out this solution but emphasize that Ukraine will have to settle accounts with Rosukrenergo in the end.
Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yury Boiko is expected in Moscow one of these days, said a source with Gazprom. At present, Boiko is the key negotiator in the gas talks of Moscow and Kiev.
In Moscow, Boiko is likely to present new procedures for clearing the debt of Naftogaz Ukrainy to Rosukrenergo (RUE), said a source with Ukrainian cabinet. Naftogaz will transfer $150 million till September 17 and undertake to pay $150 million till September 25. The remaining $22 million will be settled early October.
In return for accelerated payment, Naftogaz will require shifting to RUE the burden of maintaining the Q4 gas price at $95 per 1,000 cu meters.
In early September, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller sealed a contract with Turkmenistan for buying 12 billion cu meters of gas designated for Ukraine at $100 per 1,000 cu meters instead of $65 per 1,000 cu meters. In the second move, Gazprom refused to sell gas to Ukraine at previous price, demanding to hike it to between $135 and $140 per 1,000 cu meters. So, today’s concern of Ukraine is finding the methods to set off the difference, which amount could be $420 million.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 12, 2006
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