Gazprom's Miller denies lower 2013 gas supplies to Ukraine
Russian gas giant Gazprom denied it has agreed with Ukraine's national energy company Naftogaz to reduce gas import volumes to 27 billion cubic meters from the current 52 bcm for 2013, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Wednesday.
"The contract signed with Ukraine still stipulates Russian gas supplies at 52 billion cubic meters. We act firmly under terms of the contract and have no agreements to reduce supply volume," RIA Novosti quoted Miller as saying.
Ukraine has long been seeking to alter the terms of the 2009 gas deal. The deal ties the price of gas to oil prices, which have risen strongly since 2009, boosting Ukraine's gas bill.
Ukraine will have to pay some $416 / cbm of Russian gas in 2012. Kiev insists the price and volume of its gas imports should be reduced.
Miller also said that he saw no grounds to reduce gas price for Ukraine.
"We do not see any reason to adjust [gas] prices. The prices are absolutely market, and price for Ukraine is considerably lower than for some European countries," he added.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said $200 per 1,000 cubic meters is a fair gas price for Ukraine, while Gazprom says the company sees no reasons for a gas price revision.
Russia had previously said Ukraine has missed its chance to alter gas purchase volumes for this year as the annual contracted volume has to be changed at least six months before the start of gas supplies.
Source: http://en.rian.ru/
