Ukraine imported 8.547 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas of Russian origin in the first quarter of 2012, 52% or 9.372 bcm less year-on-year, the State Statistics Service has said.
The price tag on the gas Ukraine imported in Q1, 2012 dropped 24.2%, or by $1.143 billion, to $3.573 billion.This substantial decrease in Russian gas imports was associated with national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy buying a larger amount of gas at the beginning of last year in fulfillment of a Stockholm arbitration court ruling that it return to RosUkrEnergo (Switzerland) 12.1 bcm of gas. Also, the drop in imports was linked with the country’s intention to buy less due to high prices.
The average price for the gas Ukraine imported in Q1, 2012 was $418 per thousand cubic meters; it was $263.2 in Q1 of last year.
State Statistics Service’s figures show that in January-March of this year and last Ukraine did not import any natural gas from Central Asia or elsewhere.
According to Naftogaz Ukrainy, the state holding imported $808 million worth of natural gas this January, $1.3 billion worth in February, and $856 million worth in March.
