Ukraine is checking whether a representative of a Spanish company had the authority to sign a framework agreement to establish a consortium to build an LNG-terminal in Odesa region, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boiko has said.
“A number of documents have been signed. They were signed by a
representative of a Spanish company. We are currently settling technical
matters, trying to find out whether the signatory had the powers [to
sign the deal],” he told journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday.
Documents distributed to the press during the signing ceremony in
Kyiv on Monday lists Director General for Communication at Gas Natural
Fenosa (Spain) Jordi Garcia Tabernero as a signatory from the Spanish
side.
However, Gas Natural Fenosa said later that its representatives did
not take part in the ceremony, and the company itself had no plans to
participate in the consortium and knew nothing about this project.
In turn, the press service of the State Agency for Investment and
National Projects Management of Ukraine issued a statement that
emphasizes that the framework agreement on forming a consortium to build
the LNG-terminal was signed by a representative of Gas Natural Fenosa.
At the same time, the press service of the agency gives other name of
the signer – Jordi Sarda Bonvehi.
According to the information obtained by Interfax-Ukraine, a person
named Jordi Sarda Bonvehi, who signed the document for the Spanish side,
visited the construction site of the LNG-terminal in Odesa region in
September as a representative of the Enagas SA Company (Spain) in
Ukraine.
Enagas was previously a part of Gas Natural Fenosa Group. However,
after a change in the European legislation, the group sold its share of
Enagas. At present, 85% of the company’s shares are traded on a stock
exchange.
Enagas SA is the largest player on the gas market of Spain. It
operates a network of gas pipelines as well as a number of LNG-terminals
in the country.
