Russian gas giant Gazprom may sue Ukraine if Kiev reduces imports below the minimum contracted volumes of 41 billion cubic meters for 2012, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Friday.
“If the minimum contract volume is not purchased, it may be grounds for sueing Ukraine,” Miller told a news conference, adding the contract signed with Ukraine still stipulated Russian gas supplies in 2012 at 52 billion cu m.
Under the contract, Ukraine can accept not less than 80 percent of the contracted sum.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko announced in January that Ukraine was seeking to cut Russian gas imports to 27 billion cubic meters, from the 2012 contracted volume of 52 bcm. Gazprom reacted by stating the current gas supply contract did not envisage unilateral changes in gas purchases.
