KIEV, November 3. /TASS/. Ukraine’s state gas company Naftogaz plans to purchase Russian gas in the first quarter of 2016 in case price is acceptable, its Chief Executive Officer Andrey Kobolev said on Tuesday, adding that otherwise all needed volume of gas will be imported from Europe.
"The issue of pricing proposal the Russian side is going to make, is the issue of separate talks. We expect and hope that Russian gas producers will be rational and will offer us a competitive price. In case there is no such offer we’ll be purchasing all gas from Europe," Kobolev was quoted as saying by Ukrainian news agency.
Naftogaz CEO also said that "the issue of gas price for the first quarter of 2016 should be solved in December while signing of a separate additional agreement is not planned."
"The mechanism of agreement signed this year does not implying signing of any documents for the first quarter of next year," Kobolev said.
- Over 17 bcm of gas accumulated in Ukraine’s underground storage facilities — company
- Naftogaz of Ukraine transfers another $64 mln as prepayment for gas to Gazprom
- Source: Gazprom won't participate in tender for gas supplies to Ukraine via western border
- Russian gas supplies account for over 80% of Ukraine’s gas imports in October — company
- Gazprom receives $136 mln of prepayment from Naftogaz of Ukraine for gas supplies
- Ukraine to purchase 2 bcm of gas from Russia, the rest from EU — minister
- Kiev satisfied with new price for Russian gas
Ukraine launches gas offtake from stores, pumping not planned till yearend
Ukraine has started offtake of natural gas from its underground storage facilities, which have more than 17 bln cubic meters stored at the moment, Chief Executive officer of Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz Andrey Kobolev said on Tuesday.
"We just started gas offtake. Further pumping has no sense," he said, adding that the accumulated reserves are sufficient for passing the current heating season.
Earlier the country’s minister of energy and coal industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn said Ukraine will need 19 bln cubic meters for passing the upcoming winter season. "Unfortunately, it’s impossible to accumulate 19 bln cubic meters of gas we’ve been talking about, by the end of the year, despite the funds from the EBRD," he said.