OREANDA-NEWS. December 31, 2008. During a press conference today Gazprom Deputy Chairman and Gazprom Export CEO Alexander Medvedev and Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov gave the following comments:

Naftogaz Ukrainy has recognized the USD 2bn debt it owes Gazprom and had the money to pay that debt.
Rosukrenergo has received USD 1.5bn, which Gazprom is yet to receive
Gazprom is very concerned about the situation in particular as Naftogaz Ukrainy has announced it may confiscate transit gas to Europe.
The existing transit contract with Ukraine is valid through to 2010 and which obliges Ukraine to transit at least 110 bcm of gas per year. Gazprom pays Ukraine a fee of USD 1.60 per 100 km, which is comparable to transit fees paid to other European countries.
Talks with Naftogaz Ukrainy are to continue and a contract may yet be signed at last minute.
Gazprom has offered Naftogaz Ukrainy a discounted price for gas deliveries in 2009.


If there is no contract signed for future gas deliveries, then there is no legal basis for Gazprom to deliver gas to Ukraine. The existing contract for gas deliveries to Ukraine ends tomorrow, 1 January 2009, 10am Moscow time. Gazprom hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst.

Gazprom is in constant contact with its European partners