Ukraine is going to cut gas imports by 2 percent next year and create a $600 million stabilization fund to make up for price growth, Yanukovich said.
Photo: Alexander Techinsky
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Ukraine to Pay Gazprom from State Coffers
Ukraine has prepared for a new round of gas talks in Moscow on Friday. The country is going to cut gas imports by 2 percent next year and create a $600 million stabilization fund to make up for price growth. Ukraine hopes to get the money from sales of state plants to Russians.
Viktor Yanukovich is to come to Moscow Friday morning to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. Talks will focus on gas supplies to Ukraine in 2007. Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko gave his comment yesterday: “Price terms for gas have been set. Raters are known. I think this is a good basis for the two parties to hold talks.”
Viktor Yanukovich is to suggest keeping gas prices at the present $95 till the end of the year and raising it for 2007 but “not significantly,” a source at the Ukrainian government told Kommersant. To soften the price blow, Ukraine’s energy officials are going to cut gas imports from Russia from 57 billion to 57 billion cu. meters. A rise in consumption is to be covered by a forecasted growth in Ukraine’s gas production of 2 billion cu. meters. Gazprom, however, doubts that Ukraine will be able to buy less gas next year.
Ukraine has also amended its budget for the next year, creating the stabilization fund of $600 million. The fund is to be replenished by revenues from the sale of state ownership, privatizing major enterprises, including shipyards and chemical plants. The enterprises will be first offered to Russian businessmen, the source of Kommersant in the Ukrainian government said.
Ukraine is to pay $5.4 billion to Switzerland-registered Rosukenergo this year. It means the country will spend $6 billion for gas deliveries next year, or $107.4 per 1,000 cu. meters in 2007, taking into account the country’s stabilization fund.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 22, 2006
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