REUTERS
Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev announces that a tender to select suppliers of natural gas to Ukraine in the framework of a $300 million loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be held within two or three weeks.
"We will be able to use the funds only after a tender is held," Kobolev told reporters on Thursday, October 29.
According to Kobolev, the terms of the tender provide that Ukraine will be able to use the loan funds to buy gas only on the European market.
At this, Kobolev did not rule out that Russian Gazprom might also try to sell gas to Ukraine via the European market as part of this tender.
"They may try to take part in it [tender]," the Naftogaz CEO said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on October 23, 2015, Ukraine and the EBRD signed a loan agreement in Berlin to finance purchases of gas from the European suppliers.
The loan was given on the condition that changes would be made at Ukraine's national gas company, Naftogaz. This includes the creation of a board of supervisors from among independent and qualified directors, the introduction of internal audit, compliance, anti-corruption and risk management functions and an ownership and governance structure in line with best international practice.