Arseniy Yatseniuk on a new gas contract: We are not going to subsidize Russian Gazprom
07.07.2015 19:12 | Fin.Org.UA / Ukrainian Governmentmargin:2.0cm 42.5pt 2.0cm 3.0cm;
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Ukraine and the
EU have a joint position – the signing of a comprehensive agreement between the
EU, Ukraine and Russia, which should include a tripartite protocol and addendum
to the existing contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom - in the same format in which it was signed last
year. Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a board meeting of the Ministry of Energy and
Coal Industry of Ukraine, on Tuesday, July 7.
"The
Government of Ukraine and the President absolutely accept the approach proposed
in Brussels. This year, we insist on the same scheme," he stressed.
"Russia is endeavouring, as always, to blackmail us. We bought last
year according to market price and this year we will purchase at market price.
We aren’t going to subsidize Russian Gazprom, as well
as prevent Russian Gazprom from using its monopoly
position," the Prime Minister pointed out.
He recalled that
the Antitrust Committee of Ukraine has launched an investigation as to the monopoly
position of Russian Gazprom on the Ukrainian market:
"Jointly with our European partners, who are also conducting antitrust
investigation against Russian Gazprom, we will bring
this investigation to the end."
"We share
the same position with the European Union - the signing of a tripartite protocol
and addendum to the agreement in the same format in which it was signed last
year. We endured the winter and provided the EU with gas transit in full. We
once again want to emphasize that we guarantee gas transit, ensure energy
security and to make these guarantees operate, we need a tripartite protocol
and bilateral agreement," Arseniy Yatsenyuk highlighted.
The Prime
Minister also noted the activity of the National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz Ukrainy and its CEO Andrii Kobolev, who is carrying
out real and effective reforms in the company.
NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy has actually seen a decrease in subsidies by more than five times just for
a year: "If in 2014 we had to allocate $10 billion to pay off debts, which
we didn’t incurred, this year we are looking forward to a maximum amount of two
billion U.S. dollars."
However,
according to him, the situation in the company is still extremely difficult,
"That’s why the government decision to issue $1 billion of guarantees in
order to pump up gas in storage facilities and endure the autumn-winter period has
to be implemented."
Arsenit Yatsenyuk reminded that NJSC Naftogaz
Ukrainy conducted negotiations aimed at obtaining
appropriate financing: "I publicly call on our European and American
partners. We together endured the winter period last year. So, we must do the
same this year."