Gas Row Targets Ukraine President’s Russian Trip – Company Chief

The head of the Ukrainian national oil and gas company Naftohaz Ukrayiny, Oleh Dubyna, has said that the ongoing gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine has been deadlocked ahead of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s visit to Moscow scheduled for 12 February.

Speaking in an interview with the Ukrainian 5 Kanal TV channel on 10 February ahead of his visit to Moscow for gas talks, Dubyna said: “I have the impression that all this was prepared to push everyone into a tight corner ahead of the president’s trip.”

Dubyna said Naftohaz Ukrayiny cannot pay for 11bn cu.m. of gas as a technical statement for the gas supplied in November-December 2007 has not been signed yet, which is a matter of concern to both Naftohaz and Gazprom.

There’s much controversy about Naftohaz’s alleged gas debt as of 1 November, which needs to be sorted out, Dubyna said, adding that the reconciliation statements he saw when he took up the post of Naftohaz’s chief in December 2007 did not show any debt.

Dubyna said the RosUkrEnergo intermediary, which is the sole supplier of Russian and Central Asian gas to Ukraine, should not be removed from the gas market at present. He added, however, that Naftohaz would do without intermediaries while selling gas it would purchase in Ukraine.

Dubyna’s interview lasted for about 12 minutes. It will be processed as an excerpt by 2200 gmt on 11 February.

Originally published by 5 Kanal TV, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1900 11 Feb 08.

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