Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said on Thursday it expects gas transit fees via Ukraine to rise by up to 59 percent in 2010, against Ukraine`s expectations of a maximum 60 percent increase, according to Reuters.

Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said the company expected the fees to rise to between $2.56 and $2.7 per 1,000 cubic metres per 100 km (62 miles). This would be an increase of between 50.6 percent and 58.8 percent on the $1.7 it currently pays.

"The real level of the fee will be determined by the data on the prices of fuel oil, gasoil and natural gas for the settlement period," Kupriyanov said in emailed comments.

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Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz said on Wednesday fees would likely rise to between $2.67 and $2.72 per 1,000 cubic metres per 100 km, slightly higher than Gazprom`s estimate.

At the beginning of the year, Gazprom said it expected the transit fees to rise to $2.5.

Ukraine, which said earlier on Thursday it would import 27-33 billion cubic metres of Russian gas versus the 33 bcm expected [ID:nL3432316], has long complained that transit fees are too low.