MOSCOW, January 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russian energy
giant Gazprom hopes to sign gas supply contracts with Ukraine
for 20-30 years to ensure stable gas transit to Europe, Gazprom
Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev said on Sunday.
Gazprom and Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz signed on
Monday a long-awaited contract on gas supplies to Ukraine for
2009-2019, following a dispute which saw gas deliveries to
Europe cut off. The EU called the situation "incredible and
unacceptable." Russian gas started flowing into Europe again on
Tuesday.
"We can think of a longer period of 20-30 years similar to
other contracts [with other gas consumers]," Medvedev said in
an interview with Rossiya TV channel.
Under the current price agreement for Russian gas, Ukraine
will pay $450 per 1,000 cubic meters with a 20% discount agreed
between Moscow and Kiev for 2009. The price is expected to go
down later in the year to reflect a fall in world oil prices.
Last year Ukraine paid $179.5. The transit tariff paid by
Russia remains unchanged for 2009.
Medvedev expressed the confidence that the contracts
signed between Gazprom and Naftogaz in Moscow would not be
revised.
Russia suspended supplies to Ukraine on January 1 after
the former Soviet neighbors failed to reach an agreement on a
new gas contract for 2009. A week later, Gazprom cut off gas
deliveries to the European Union, saying Ukraine was stealing
gas intended for EU consumers.
Gazprom resumed supplies to Europe on January 20 following
the signing of a new contract with Naftogaz on Russian gas
supplies to Ukraine for 2009-2019.
News
