The opposition political forces have stated that the procedure of signing a contract on the construction of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal was violated, as representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had to be present during the signature of such documents.

"There is a procedure in the country – no deal or contract, or even a temporary agreement, can be signed by the authorities without presence of the Security Service of Ukraine," MP of the sixth convocation (BYT-Batkivschyna parliamentary faction) Andriy Senchenko said at a roundtable discussion in Kyiv on Thursday.

According to the MP, the situation with the signature of the LNG terminal contract had been an embarrassment for Ukraine.

He also said that the situation was foreseen by "the scheme of buying oil derricks by [Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy] Boiko."

The deputy added that SBU Chief Ihor Kalinin should report why the procedure was not observed.

As reported, on November 26, 2012, the State Agency for Investment and National Projects of Ukraine signed a cooperation agreement with Gas Natural Fenosa as part of the construction of the LNG terminal in Odesa region.

The contract's Spanish signatory was Jordi Sarda Bonvehi, who had earlier been said to act on behalf of Venezuelan company Enegas. The latter had expressed a desire to invest in the terminal construction project.

However, Gas Natural Fenosa and Enegas denied they had signed any deals with the Ukrainian government. Each denied that Sarda Bonvehi represented it. The two companies said they were not considering joining the consortium that would run the project.

The project manager, Vitaliy Demianiuk, explained that Sarda Bonvehi is a professional commercial agent who acts on behalf of many Spanish companies.

"In this case, Bonvehi technically organized a visit of Gas Natural representatives to Ukraine, and had to accompany them during the ceremony," Demyaniuk explained.

Demianiuk played down the potential effect of misunderstandings over the deal on the project.

The Batkivschyna United Opposition demanded that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Ukrainian Premier Mykola Azarov, and head of the state agency for investment Vladyslav Kaskiv be held to account for cooperating with "an unknown Spanish investor."