Energy Headlines

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko hopes for a positive decision to be approved concerning pumping up of Russian natural gas into Ukraine’s gas storages. Yulia Tymoshenko informed in Astana on the outcomes of her meeting with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Volodymyr Putin. “I think we will have gas pumped,” the Head of Government of Ukraine said.

According to her, all the issues concerning pumping up the Russian gas into Ukraine’s reservoirs are on a stage of discussion and for now a final decision hasn’t been approved. “But I believe we will find a compromise decision which enables to ensure stable operation of gas transport system in autumn-winter period”.

In his turn, Volodymyr Putin noted during a year Ukraine has to pump into gas storages around 15 billion cu m of gas to the tune of USD 4.7-5 billion. The Russian Premier added pumping up of Russian gas to Ukrainian storages has to be maintained just in this period “as without gas pumped into the storages Ukrainian economics and gas sphere are not capable of operating in autumn-winter period”. “Gas has to be pumped now, just in this period, as technologically it cannot be pumped in appropriate amounts later”.

In addition, Volodymyr Putin noted under conditions of the global financial crunch the issue of payment for gas “is a complicated task and we realize this very well”.

According to him, in the process of talks with Yulia Tymoshenko they tackled a possibility of payments at the account of future transit of Russian gas to European consumers via Ukraine’s territory through a 5-year term.

Volodymyr Putin opined, at this, huge risks emerge for Russia especially in view of future presidential elections in Ukraine and all the issues joined to a possible reorganizing of gas transport structures in Ukraine. He added the situation worsened in connection with recent statements of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko who considers absolutely unaffordable such form of payment. “I’m asking the society of our countries to pay attention to this situation: under such conditions and with such huge risks we will not be able to solve the issue in such regime, we need a consolidated position of Ukraine’s leadership or even this doesn’t mean we will be able to settle all the problems as the amounts are huge, and terms of crediting are long, so risks are huge also”.

At the same time, Volodymyr Putin announced the negotiations into this issue are to prolong: “The Ukrainian party has formed their propositions so we will consider them thoroughly and within nearest time to continue contacts in order to determine further ways to settle this issue”.

The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation underlined uninterrupted supplies of Russian gas to Ukrainian consumers is a crucial condition to ensure transit to the European consumers. “We saw that during a row which emerged at the beginning of year, so we have to understand this and bear our share of responsibility. And none has to pretend it is no concern of his”.

Volodymyr Putin noted “Russia is ready to put a share into solving of this issue, but only a share. Which share it will be we will decide in the process of negotiations”.

Source: Government portal