RosUkrEnergo to Supply Ukraine’s Gas

 RosUkrEnergo and NAK Naftogaz of Ukraine have signed a new, year-long contract for the delivery of 50 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukrainian Consumers. The Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Oleksandr Shlapak, announced the development during a press-conference Friday.

“This means that Ukraine will finally consume legitimate gas,” Shlapak said. He added that RosUkrEnergo would retain its role as middleman.

The Deputy said that UkrGaz-Energo would not supply gas, but that a new company had been registered in Ukraine, a Gazprom affiliate, OOO Gazprom Sbyt (Marketing) Ukraine.

On March 12, Gazprom and Naftogaz signed an agreement outlining future gas relations. According to the agreement, an affiliate of Gazprom would be authorized to sell 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas directly to Ukraine’s industrial consumers, beginning on April 1, 2008. Until recently, Ukraine’s industrial consumers were supplied by ZAT UkrGazEnergo, a joint venture of Naftogaz and RosUkrEnergo.

On April 10, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko announced that Gazprom and NAK Naftogaz of Ukraine had signed an agreement for the sale of 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas on the Ukrainian domestic market.