KIEV, February 6. /TASS/. Ukraine has reduced the share of gas delivered from Russia to 33% and increased that of the EU to 67% as part of its gas import diversification program. That's according to the country's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who held a press conference with the Slovakian PM Robert Fico.
"Last year the share of gas received from the EU was 5%, and from Russia - 95%. Now we have reached a level of 67% with the EU and 33% with Russia," Yatsenyuk said. He added that "by continuing this trend, Ukraine will be able to fully diversify gas deliveries, and mainly thanks to partners from Slovakia".
Yatsenyuk on Wednesday said Ukraine intends to further decrease the share of Russian gas in its energy balance.
"I demand a gradual further decrease of Russian gas share in Ukraine’s gas balance," he told a government meeting, adding that the gas imports from Russia should be decreased, while the volumes of reverse gas supplies should be increased.
Prime Minister said that it’s necessary to pump "maximum gas at the lowest possible price" to Ukraine’s gas storage facilities from Europe during summer season when prices for reverse gas range from $250 to $300 for 1,000 cubic meters.
Earlier TASS reported that Ukraine’s imports of reserve gas in 2015 might account for up to 60% of the total volume. Last year Gazprom supplied 14.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine, down from 25.8 billion delivered in 2013. Reverse gas imports totaled 5.1 billion cubic meters in 2014.
