Naftogaz hopes Rada to consider proposals to select partner to manage Ukraine's GTS in H1 2019
Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Andriy Kobolev has said that he hopes that the Verkhovna Rada will consider the proposals to select a strategic international partner to manage the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) in H1 2019.
"If the decision is made, it will be made in public in the Verkhovna Rada, with everyone who wants to see who, why, and, most importantly, what they [potential partners] are offering us. I hope that it will be possible to do in the first half of next year," he said on the Priamy TV channel on Monday evening.
According to him, for this, the Cabinet of Ministers should present proposals on the terms of the tender to select the partner to the parliament in the near future.
As reported, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill in August 2014, which allows attracting a proper foreign partner to the capital of the systemic operator on conditions of owning up to 49%, although only a management option is also possible.
Naftogaz has repeatedly said that there is a need for Ukraine before the expiration of the transit contract with Gazprom from January 2020 to find a strategic international partner - a reliable energy company to manage the gas transmission system.
The Energy and Coal Industry Ministry in December 2017 officially invited potential partners in the management of the country's GTS to preliminary consultations. Ten companies informed about their interest: Eustream (Slovakia), Snam (Italy), Gazunie (the Netherlands), GRTgaz (France), GAZsystem (Poland), Desfa (Greece), Reganosa (Spain), Verbunddnelz Gaz AG (Germany), Fluxys (Belgium) and Transgaz (Romania).