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Ukraine increases Feb purchases of Russian gas by over 66%

Ukraine in February imported 3.125 billion cubic metres of Russian gas, Naftogaz Ukrainy reported

MOSCOW, March 11 (Itar-Tass) — Ukraine in February imported 3.125 billion cubic metres of Russian gas, Naftogaz Ukrainy reported.

Thus the purchase of Russian gas by Ukraine in February increased by 66.6 percent, compared to January.

The Ukrainian company transferred to Gazprom a 1.3 billion-dollar payment for imported natural gas in February, with the price per one thousand cubic metres amounting to 416 US dollars.

Over two months Ukraine has imported, on the basis of payment of 808 million dollars in January, slightly more than 5 billion cubic metres of gas, including 1.875 billion cubic metres in January.

Ukraine continues to insist on a revision of the gas agreements with Russia. The country “paid and pays an outrageous price for gas”, which “kills the Ukrainian economy,” Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said earlier.

On January 19, 2009, Russia and Ukraine made 10-year contracts until 2020 for the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe through Ukraine and for gas supplies to Ukraine on the basis of the European pricing formula. Under these agreements, Russian gas is supplied to Ukraine at a 20 percent discount, while the transit rate remained at the 2008 level of 1.7 U.S. dollars for 1,000 cubic metres per 100 kilometres. On January 1, 2010, the sides switched to market gas prices.

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