Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko excludes the possibility of a rise in the price of imported natural gas in 2008 if RosUkrEnergo is excluded from its supply pattern.
She disclosed this at a press conference.
"I believe, in the nearest future, when talks are finished between national joint stock company Naftohaz Ukrainy and Russia's Gazprom natural gas monopoly, the second mediator, RosUkrEnergo, will also be excluded. I am optimistic about that, and I believe it will not at all lead to any rise in the natural gas price, as we are frightened," she said.
The prime minister emphasized that the cost of gas was sealed at the level of USD 179.5 for 1,000 cubic meters in 2008.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Ukraine's Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company and Gazprom signed an agreement on development of relations in gas industry on March 12.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved this agreement with reservations on March 19 and directed Naftohaz Ukrainy to hold additional talks with Gazprom with the aim of addressing these reservations.
Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom must coordinate the agreement, including all amendments, following which it will take effect.
Currently natural gas is supplied to Ukraine by RosUkrEnergo, whose 50% belong to Gazprom, 45% to Ukrainian Dmytro Firtash, and 5% to Ukrainian businessman Ivan Fursin.
Press conference with Situations Modeling Agency entitled "Earlier Kharkiv elections: possible consequences and prospects for participants of electoral process"
