Price of Russian gas for Ukraine in early 2010 to grow to $270-300 per thousand cubic meters, says president's representative
Kyiv, November 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The price of Russian imported gas for Ukraine in Q1, 2010 will grow to $270-300 per thousand cubic meters compared to $208.1 per thousand cubic meters in Q4, 2009, according to Bohdan Sokolovsky, the presidential representative for international energy security.
"If to speak about the start of the year – January – there are assessments for imported gas – from $270 to $300 per thousand cubic meters. I support the second figure, taking into account oil price trends," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.
Commenting the fees for gas transit, he said that they will grow by $0.7-$0.8 per transportation of thousand cubic meters per 100 kilometers, which means a 41-47% rise in the 2009 tariff of $1.7 per thousand cubic meters per 100 kilometers.
"According to the formula registered in the transit contract, the price is to grow by around 70-80 cents. This is the small growth, of course," he said.
Sokolovsky said that on February 12, 2008 Ukrainian and Russian presidents agreed on a new type of cooperation in the gas sector. They discussed a transitional period, during which market prices of Russian gas for Ukraine and the fees for gas transit to Europe will be gradually brought to the economically justifiable prices.
He said that if the increase was done simultaneously, the country could avoid hard financial blows on National JSC Naftogaz Ukrainy and the Ukrainian industry.
He said that in January 2009 the price of Russian gas was increased by 2.5 times, and the gas transit tariff was to be increased by 2.5 times too.