MOSCOW: Ukraine is using a “fraudulent scheme” to carry out reverse shipments of Russian gas from the European market, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said, further raising tensions in a price dispute with Kiev.
Ukraine, a transit route for more than half of Russian gas shipped to the European Union, wants to pay less for gas from Russia because it says a 2009 deal with Moscow set an exorbitant price, and aims to buy more gas from Europe.
The two ex-Soviet neighbours have a record of pricing disputes which have resulted in interruptions of Russian gas supplies to Europe. “There are no de facto and physical reverse supplies planned, but what is planned is to use Gazprom’s gas through some virtual reverse,” the monopoly’s head told Rossiya-24 state-run TV.
Spokespersons for Ukraine’s deputy prime minister on energy issues Yuri Boiko and Fuel Minister Eduard Stavitsky were not available for comment. Miller said the scheme was enforced using technical manipulations at gas-measuring stations.
Reiterating Gazprom’s position, he said buying gas from Europe at spot prices will not be economically viable for Ukraine, which currently buys Russian gas at a fixed price of $430 per 1,000 cubic metres.
AFP
