Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy can set up a joint venture without involving the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS), said Kostiantyn Borodyn, head of the gas, oil and oil-processing industry department at the Ukrainian Ministry of Fuel and Energy.
"Is it possible to set up a joint venture without the transfer of the gas transport system? Absolutely," Borodyn told a press conference on Monday.
Transferring the GTS into the joint venture’s assets is a very complicated and debatable issue for Ukraine, he said.
The joint venture can start work from projects between Gazprom and Naftogaz in any area of the oil and gas industry, Borodyn said.
It was reported that at his meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov in late April Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggested a merger between Gazprom and Naftogaz. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said later, commenting on the idea of a merger, that is not possible on a parity basis as Ukraine would have liked. At the same time Ukraine does not agree to play a minority part in this alliance. After Ukraine’s statements Russia said that at the initial stage the merger could be held in the form of a joint venture.
