Ukraine overpays USD 3 billion for Russian gas annually – Mr Yanukovych
RIA Novosti citing Mr Viktor Yanukovych President as saying that, Ukraine pays about USD 3.8 billion too much every year for Russian gas when compared with neighboring countries.
He said that “Taking into account of our neighbors, we pay nearly UAH 30 billion more for Russian gas. These funds could have been used for improving the social standards and development of our state.”
Russia and Ukraine have been embroiled in a drawn-out dispute over the price and volume of Russian gas purchased by Ukraine. Kyiv insists the current price is too high while Moscow is pushing for control of Ukraine’s system of gas transit to Europe as part of a deal to cut prices.
The Ukrainian president also said that high gas price is detrimental to the country economic development. The Government is seeking to resolve the issues of debt risks and the shameful gas contracts of the previous government to a minimum for recent two years.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Mr Yuriy Boyko announced this January that the country was seeking to cut Russian gas imports to 27 billion cubic meters from the 2012 contracted volume of 52 billion cubic meters. Russian gas giant Gazprom reacted by saying the current contract did not stipulate unilateral changes in gas purchases.
Last week Ukrainian Prime Minister Mr Mykola Azarov said that Moscow had sent a new gas proposal to Kyiv stipulating a 10 percent discount in the price of gas which Ukraine was considering.
Sourced – RIA Novosti
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