Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz have discussed how difficulties with gas transit might be avoided, Gazprom chief Alexei Miller told reporters.
“We discussed preparations for the autumn-winter peak periods in
2012-2013 and pumping the necessary volumes into underground storage
facilities in Ukraine. We held frank discussions of all issues, regimes
for getting through the autumn-winter peak. We don’t want a repeat of
last winter’s situation, when Ukraine tapped gas from transit volumes.
We have to realize that January and February can be abnormally cold,”
Miller said.
He recalled that Gazprom had paid Naftogaz a $2-billion advance for
transit to enable it to pump the necessary volumes underground. “If more
finance is needed we are prepared to consider this and grant it,”
Miller said.
Preparations for the winter had to be conducted in such a way that consumers from neither Ukraine nor Europe suffer, he said.
