National joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy expects that the price of imported gas in the third quarter of 2016 will be less than $200 per 1,000 cubic meters, Naftogaz Head Andriy Kobolev has said.

"We hope that after the tender the price of imported gas will be less than $200," he said on Shuster Live show late on Tuesday.

He said that in the second quarter of 2016 the company bought as less gas as possible as lower prices on international markets could be seen in the third quarter 2016.

"This was the commercial decision and it was discussed by the board. We have a clear schedule how we will buy gas until the end of the year," he said.

Kobolev said that the letter to Gazprom on the possible purchase of gas in the next two quarters is linked to the necessity of comparing the price of the Russian company with prices of European traders.

"We as we usually did proposed, including to Gazprom, to present their price offer and sign a supplementary agreement to the 2009 contract. This was done to make sure that we buy gas at the smallest price," he said.

"We have fully removed dependability on Russian gas. If Gazprom does not supply gas to Ukraine or if the price does not satisfy us or the terms of the contract would be onerous, we will be able to buy gas from Europe as we did this winter. In the interests of Ukrainian consumers it is better to minimize expenses on purchased gas," Kobolev said.