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MOSCOW. — Russian gas deliveries were received by Ukraine yesterday, with a total of 43,5 million cubic metres to be imported, according to a spokesman for Ukrtransgaz, Naftogaz’s transport subsidiary.
“On Tuesday (yesterday) Ukrtransgaz started importing natural gas from Russia. 43,5 million cubic metres of gas from Russia will be imported to meet the everyday needs of Ukrainian citizens,” company spokesman Maksim Bielawsky said. Gazprom also confirmed.
Deliveries were initially planned to resume on December 11, but Naftogaz asked to begin receiving the gas earlier, TASS reports.
Kiev, which saw winter come early this year, has been burning through energy, making the need to reach out to Russia for natural gas, coal and electricity more pressing.
On November 5, energy-starved Ukraine paid off $1,45 billion of its gas debt, a precondition to resume deliveries. This was part of the so-called ‘Winter Gas Plan’ between Russia, Ukraine, and the European Commission to ensure gas would flow through Ukraine to Europe through the winter months and not be shut off over a gas dispute, as in 2006 and 2009.
Under the plan, Ukraine will be able to fulfill its gas needs through the end of March, but only as long as it pays for its gas up front at the price of US$378 per 1 000 cubic metres. — RT
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