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Gazprom Tries to Discourage Europe to Use Ukrainian Underground Gas Storage Facilities

Gazprom’s Head Miller stated that Russia will never pump gas from into Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities (UGSF) whatever beneficial terms Kiev would suggest. It’s noteworthy that on the eve Gazprom decided to grant Ukraine 1 billion USD as the advance payment for the transit which shall be used to purchase gas for UGSF.

 

Russian Gazprom has decided to tell potential partners from Ukraine, who can conclude an agreement for the use of Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities, about its “negative” experience with pumping gas into UGSF.

 

According to Russian news agencies, this was stated by the Chairman of Gazprom’s Board of Directors Alexey Miller during a press-conference, answering the question about his line regarding the plans of Ukraine to create energy hub.

 

"Ukraine is free to offer any energy gas projects to its foreign partners, but I would like to tell about Gazprom’s experience. Ukraine says that gas could be stored in its facilities – to be pumped in summer and sold in winter. Gazprom has experience of gas pumping into Ukrainian UGSF – and the experience is totally negative ", - Miller said.

 

He reported that eventually the issue was resolved with Ukrainian colleagues, but for itself Gazprom decided not to store gas in UGSF of Ukraine.

 

“For ourselves we have made quite rough decision on the ground of this sad and hard experience, under no circumstances we shall pump gas into Ukrainian UGSF, no matter what terms our Ukrainian friends suggest. Today we do not and shall not pump gas into Ukrainian UGSF.

 

It’s noteworthy that on the eve Gazprom decided to grant Ukraine 1 billion USD as the advance payment for the transit which shall be used to purchase gas for UGSF

 

- Ukraine is close to conclude agreements with Europeans on gas storage in UGSF

 

- Russia will not do without Ukrainian gas storages and shall have losses, Azarov

 

Let’s remind that earlier the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Eduard Stavitskij, reported that Ukraine is close to the conclusion of the contracts with Europeans, on storage of gas in underground gas storage facilities within its territory.

 

Ukraine holds talks with Poland, Hungary, Italy, Germany and other European countries for the UGSF use.

 

In previous years by the beginning of a heating season Ukraine accumulated into UGSF about 22025 billion cubic meters, considering the guarantee of uninterrupted  transit and to provide gas for Ukrainian costumes,. But in 2012 he refused to help Russia to assure stable transit at its own expenses: Naftogaz suggested Gazprom the take care about reserve gas stocks, as it exactly with it the buyers (the countries of the EU, CIS, Turkey, etc.)have concluded contracts for uninterrupted gas supply.

 

World media monitoring

 

03.07.2013