Russia Expects Prepayment for Gas Deliveries from Ukraine
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Moscow is yet to receive a prepayment from Kyiv for its winter-time natural gas deliveries to Ukraine, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Saturday.
“We have not received any money yet, the last tranche came in on November 5,” Novak told reporters.
This is not the first time that Kyiv falls behind on gas payments to Russia. Its state gas company Gazprom estimates that Ukraine’s energy major Naftogaz owes it $256.5 million in arrears for gas delivered to southeastern Ukraine for 2015, according to the company’s financial report published last week.
Moscow renewed gas deliveries to Ukraine after receiving $234 million in prepayment out of the agreed $500 from Naftogaz.
In September, Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission initiated a winter package deal for supplies during the peak consumption period between October 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016. It will ensure the delivery of 2 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine’s underground storage at discounted prices.