REUTERS
Kobolyev noted that cooperation with Moldova will ensure an additional load on Ukrainian storage facilities and gas transmission systems.
Andriy Kobolyev, head of the board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, hopes to start cooperation with Moldova as soon as possible.
This will provide an additional load on Ukrainian gas storages and gas transmission capacities.
"The main task that now needs to be addressed is to sign agreements between our countries' operators on cooperation in all points of interconnection in accordance with the European rules. This is a type of cooperation where both parties gain equally, which means there are high chances of us reaching an agreement on all issues as soon as possbile," Kobolyev wrote on Facebook.
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For Moldova, gas imports from Europe means competitive prices and free choice of supplier, he added.
"The use of Ukrainian storage facilities guarantees our neighbor’s energy security and protects them from Gazprom's unpredictable and politically motivated behavior. For Ukraine, this is also an interesting prospect. Cooperation with Moldova will provide an additional load on our storage facilities and gas transmission system capacities," Kobolyev explained.
According to the head of Naftogaz, the company is negotiating such cooperation and hopes for the fruitful completion of talks.
As UNIAN reported earlier, in June, Ukraine’s GTS operator Ukrtransgaz offered Moldova to use the Ukrainian GTS for pumping European gas, and also for storing the necessary gas reserves in underground storage facilities of Ukraine to guarantee gas supplies to Moldovan consumers in case any difficulties emerge with the new contract between Moldovagaz and Russian Gazprom starting 2020.
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Ukrtransgaz operates 12 underground gas storage facilities with a total active capacity of about 31 billion cubic meters. Underground gas storages are an integral part of Ukraine's gas supply and gas transit system. The company is also the operator of gas pipelines pumping natural gas from the Russian Federation to the EU countries. In the last 10 years, Ukraine has been using only 50-60% of the technical capacity of its storage facilities for its own needs. The five largest Ukrainian USFs are located in the western part of Ukraine, just 160 kilometers from the border with Hungary. 100% of Ukrtransgaz shares belong to NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.