Gas Talks Fail in Ukrainian Capital

Text of report by private Ukrainian Inter TV on 25 January

[Presenter] Talks on supplying Russian gas to Ukraine failed today. The meeting of representatives of Ukraine’s Naftohaz [national oil and gas company], Russia’s Gazprom as well as RosUkrEnergo and UkrGazEnergo gas traders lasted for no longer than 30 minutes, after which a Naftohaz representative left.

Managers of gas traders have accused Naftohaz of stalling talks. They say that they have to supply gas to Ukraine without contracts and suffer losses. Naftohaz’s press service said that contacts were offered to the suppliers, and a tender procedure to buy gas from the exclusive supplier UkrGazEnergo was held as required by the law.

[Ihor Voronin, captioned as the chairman of UkrGazEnergo board] Naftohaz Ukrayiny has not yet announced a public tender to buy gas. Obviously, there is no contract to supply gas as of January.

[Dmitriy Glebko, captioned as RosUkrEnergo's executive] The unauthorized use of gas in Ukraine, I mean the absence of contracts, is forcing us to buy additional Russian gas, which involves serious losses. This concerns us, of course.

[Presenter] The management of RosUkrEnergo assured that the company will continue to supply gas to partners under existing contracts.

Originally published by Inter TV, Kiev, in Russian 1800 25 Jan 08.

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