Ukraine is planning to cut natural gas purchases from Russia to around 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) and import some 5 bcm of gas via a reverse flow from Europe in 2013.
Deputy Board Chairman of National JSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, Vadym Chuprun, has said this at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.
“We will buy 27.5 bcm of gas from Russia this year… At first we
though of purchasing 24 bcm in 2013, and now [we are going to buy] some
20 bcm,” he said.
However, Chuprun did not specify what amount of gas was indicated in
Ukraine’s request for 2013, which has been submitted to Russia.
“The requests have been sent. This is a negotiation process, and I
won’t take the risk of disclosing the details of our request,” he said.
Chuprun also said that currently Ukraine is receiving gas from
Germany via a reverse flow at a price that is $100 lower than that of
Russia’s Gazprom. In connection with this, Ukraine is planning to
increase the volumes of reverse gas supplies from Europe.
“It will be some 5 bcm in 2013,” he said.
According to the official, reverse supplies could be carried out across Poland, as well as via Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria.
“We examined the technical possibilities for reverse gas supplies
across these countries very thoroughly, and we’ve provided our partners
with the relevant information,” Chuprun said.
