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Ukraine to Introduce License System to Natural Gas Exports This Year

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 09:00 CST

Ukraine to introduce license system to natural gas exports this year

KIEV, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine would impose a license system on its natural gas exports this year, the government's press bureau said on Tuesday.

The new measure would be aimed at maintaining a balance between gas supply and demand in Ukraine, the bureau explained. The licenses would be granted after consultation between the Economy Ministry and the Fuel and Energy Ministry.

Economy Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that all natural gas exports would be subject to the license regulations, regardless of whether the gas was produced originally within Ukraine or first imported from other countries.

The natural gas produced by Ukraine itself amounts to 20 billion cubic meters every year while a further 60 billion cubic meters is imported from Russia and Turkmenistan. Some of the gas from both sources is exported by Ukraine to its neighbors.

Ukraine has had to pay 95 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas since a pricing dispute early this year. Turkmenistan also requested a price hike for its exports to Ukraine last month.

The price rise demands have led Ukraine to curb its natural gas exports to meet its own domestic demand.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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