Government should be open in plans for GTS, says First of December initiative group

Kyiv, June 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The government should be honest and open to the public regarding its plans for the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS) and the reforming of the gas market, a representative of the "First of December" initiative group of Ukrainian intelligentsia, Bohdan Havrylyshyn, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"The issues require moral and ethical behavior – that is the truth, transparency and respect for society and individual citizens," he said.

In turn, Energy Program Director at Nomos Center Mykhailo Honchar said that the plans of the government on the GTS mainly become known to the public only from anonymous sources.

"We learn about some agreements on the creation of a gas transport JV or a consortium from media reports, referring to anonymous sources. The importance of the GTS issue cannot be overestimated, as our economy is anomalously gas-dependant. Whoever manages the gas flows in the economy, controls it," the expert said.

President of Kyiv International Energy Club Oleksandr Todiychuk said that the government should present concrete plans on the development of the gas market to the public, including for the GTS.

"In the history of our energy many mistakes were made due to the absence of adequate planning. Everything should be calculated in advance, and then the planned steps could be not attractive… the government should present concrete scenarios and plans to the public – what will happen with the gas market and the GTS," he said.