Board chairman of the Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company Oleh Dubyna considers as illogical claims of the Centragas Beteiligungs Holding AG, Austria, which owns the 50-percent stake in RosUkrEnergo, Switzerland, to Ukraine regarding the expropriation of 11 billion cubic meters of gas earlier belonging to RosUkrEnergo, he told a press conference.
"The Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company has acquired this gas from Gazprom, thus, RosUkrEnergo can address only its partner, but not Ukraine," Dubyna said.
As reported, Austria-based Centragas Beteiligungs Holding AG, which owns 50% of the shares of the RosUkrEnergo based in Switzerland, has commenced proceedings against Ukraine for expropriation by the Naftohaz Ukrainy national oil and gas company of 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas owned by RosUkrEnergo.
On Nov. 16, the Russian Vedomosti newspaper said that RosUkrEnergo increased the claims to Naftohaz Ukrainy regarding 11 billion cubic meters of gas to $8.26 billion.
The amount allegedly consists of repayment for 11 billion cubic meters of gas, which is $4.95 billion, fine of 10%, interest for untimely advance payment of $386.2 million, debt for unused gas of $747 million, fines for nonfulfillment of applications for pumping of gas in 2008 of $447.98 million, fines for nonfulfillment of applications for consumption of gas in 2008 of $57.3 million, interest for untimely payment in 2006 of $54.6 million, and fines for nonfulfillment of applications in 2007-2008 of $74.56 million.
In compliance with the audited consolidated reporting of the national joint-stock company for 2008, the Arbitration institution of the Chamber of Commerce, Switzerland, is likely to take the final decision regarding the dispute between the companies in April 2010.
The hearings on the appeals are expected in January 2010.
The court proceeding with RosUkrEnergo is held in connection with alleged violation of contracts by Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company.
In its turn, Naftohaz Ukrainy has appealed back several times against RosUkrEnergo.
