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Ukraine's largest state energy holding Naftogaz suggests private companies use available gas transportation capacities on the border with the European Union to import natural gas to Ukraine, the company’s press service reported.
Naftogaz also notes that it is ready to discuss terms of use of its booked capacities for gas shipments from the EU to the Ukrainian border.
"As a guaranteed supplier of gas to all categories of consumers, we have to think primarily of how to import gas to the country in the volumes sufficient for the whole period until the end of the next heating season. At the same time, it will be incorrect to make Naftogaz a sole importer of gas to Ukraine," Naftogaz press service reported citing company’s CEO Andriy Kobolev.
"We are ready to facilitate as much as possible imports of additional gas volumes by private providers that is necessary to ensure the country’s gas balance until the end of the following heating period. Those interested should contact us," Kobolev said.
The company recalled that Naftogaz has accounted for 99% of gas imports to Ukraine since the beginning of 2015.
"However, the share of Naftogaz in gas sales to industrial consumers who pay the full market price for imported gas does not exceed 30%," according to the company.
Naftogaz considers it reasonable that private traders, who sell gas to industrial consumers at market prices, form necessary gas reserves in underground storage facilities in summer to meet the needs of their customers during the winter period.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on July 1, Naftogaz of Ukraine suspended gas purchases from Russian Gazprom, having refused Gazprom’s conditions for further Russian gas shipments to Ukraine at the Vienna talks after expiration on June 30 of supplementary agreement between the two parties, which stipulated the terms of Russian gas supplies.
At the same time, gas imports from Slovakia and Hungary were reduced due to lack of sufficient funds, while those from Poland suspended completely. Naftogaz is now in talks with foreign banks regarding the disbursement of a $ 1 billion loan to carry out gas purchases.