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Ukraine hopes for 10% reduction of imported natural gas price next year

KIEV, December 05. /ITAR-TASS/. Kiev hopes for a 10-percent reduction of the imported natural gas price, Ukrainian Minister of Fuel and Energy Eduard Stavitsky told reporters on Thursday, noting that he referred “not only to Russian gas, but all gas supplied to Ukraine.”

Answering a question whether the information about reached compromise at gas negotiations between Ukraine and Russia is true he declined to comment, saying it was necessary to “wait until the official documents” are released. “The negotiations continue. Next year, we hope to buy at least 10 percent less of natural gas than this year,” he said, noting that “meant a 10-percent gas price reduction,” the UNIAN news agency quoted the minister. Stavitsky also said that “Ukraine wants to maintain gas transit via its territory at the level of 90 billion cubic meters.”

It is planned to reduce by five percent the domestic gas consumption next year. The minister admitted that it would be very difficult to do this, because over the preceding years “we have already cut gas consumption in the country to 45 percent).”

Stavitsky said previously that Ukraine’s state budget for 2014 would be calculated with taking into account a new - reduced Russian gas price - 280 U.S. dollars for 1,000 cubic meters. According to him, a discount could be provided “as a result of negotiations with Russia.” According to the Energy Ministry, this year Ukrainian companies plan to buy from Russia 27 billion cubic meters of gas at an average price of 401 U.S. dollars for 1,000 cubic meters to the total worth of 10.8 billion U.S. dollars.