Brussels to Host 'Kick-off' Gas Talks on Friday
Talks between Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers and the European Commission to take place on Friday are a preliminary step towards a deal by around June on ensuring future gas supplies, EU officials said. Last year the Commission, the EU executive, brokered a series of three-way talks that led to an accord in October to keep gas flowing over the peak demand winter months despite acute tension between Kiev, Moscow and Brussels over Russia's annexation of Crimea. The "winter package" expires on March 31, after which Ukraine is set to lose the discount negotiated last year unless a new deal is reached.
Ukraine Gas Reserves Now Down Significantly
The volume of gas kept in Ukrainian underground gas storages has fallen by around 8.4 percent since Kiev started pumping gas on Oct. 20 for heating in colder weather, state-run gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Monday. The company's spokesman said there were 15.35 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in storage as of Nov. 15 compared with 16.75 bcm as of Oct. 20. Ukraine, which covers half of its annual needs by importing Russian gas, has been left without flows from Russia since mid-June due to a bitter pricing dispute and unpaid debts.
Ukraine Could Buy 1 bcm of Russian Gas in 2014
Ukraine will most probably buy around 1 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian gas by the end of the year, Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said on Friday. Russia, which cut off supplies to Ukraine in June because of a standoff over prices, has insisted that Ukraine pay for future supplies in advance. Until now Kiev has not committed to new orders as a separatist conflict weighs on its flagging economy. Earlier on Friday a newspaper interview quoted Prodan as saying Ukraine planned to buy up to 1.5 bcm. "I talked about it being up to 1.5 (bcm), but most likely it will be around 1 billion," Prodan later told journalists.
Ukraine Must Buy Coal From Russia to Get Through Winter
Ukraine will be forced to buy coal from Russia to get through the winter, a serious setback to the country's efforts to lessen energy dependence on its powerful neighbour, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said on Wednesday. Conflict between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces in Ukraine's industrial east has disrupted coal supplies to thermal power plants (TPP), which provide around 40 percent of the country's electricity, and has left reserves critically low ahead of the cold winter months. "We have no other option but to turn to the Russian producers and try to buy coal there…
Hope and Obstacles as Russia and Ukraine Seek Gas Deal
A tentative agreement between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents has raised hopes of ending a dispute in which Moscow has halted natural gas supplies to Kiev, but several obstacles still have be overcome. Movement on the gas row was the only sign of progress at talks between Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko on Friday which failed to resolve differences over fighting in eastern Ukraine and a deep crisis in relations. The two sides, whose energy ministers will meet in Brussels on Tuesday, still differ over how to calculate Kiev's huge gas debt and the schedule for payments and there are doubts about Ukraine's ability to pay.
Ukraine: EU Proposes Sept 27 Gas Talks
The European Commission has proposed to hold gas talks with Ukraine and Russia on Sept.27, Ukraine's Energy Minister Yuri Prodan was quoted as saying on Wednesday. "The Ukrainian side supports the proposal and now we are waiting for the reply from Russian side," Prodan said, according to his spokeswoman. The Commission said last week it had invited Ukraine and Russia to take part in gas talks on Sept.20 but spokeswoman for the Russian Energy Ministry on Monday said the meeting would not take place on that day. Reporting By Pavel Polityuk
Ukraine: No Progress in Russia Gas Talks
Ukraine's Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said on Friday that Kiev was disappointed by a "lack of constructive approach" from Russia on gas talks, which have already caused a cut-off of gas supplies to Ukrainian consumers. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday that Moscow was ready for talks on resuming gas supplies to Ukraine, and ready to reduce its prices in an effort to secure a deal. Novak said that Russia could apply a retroactive discount of $100, bringing the price per 1,000 cubic metres for April-June to $385. "We hear again about the price of $385... due to a cancellation of fees.
European Gas for Ukraine after Russia Cutoff
Ukraine imported gas from Poland and Hungary in July after Russia cut off supplies, and the volume amounted to about a tenth of its imports a year ago, according to domestic gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz on Thursday. Gas imports totalled 221 million cubic meters last month - 118 million from Poland and 103 million from Hungary - against around 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year earlier, the company said in a statement. Russia, which supplied half of Ukraine's gas needs in 2013, halted gas exports to Ukraine on June 16, citing price disagreements and Kiev's outstanding debt for earlier deliveries.
European Energy Commissioner Meeting Ukraine Counterpart
Russia cut off gas to Ukraine last month over pricing row; Gas storage ample for now. European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger will meet Ukraine's energy minister on Thursday to discuss the gas price crisis between Moscow and Kiev, but no date has been set for the wider talks needed to get a solution. Commission spokeswoman Sabine Berger said Oettinger would meet Ukraine's Yuri Prodan in Brussels later on Thursday as part of a series of negotiations following Gazprom's cut off of gas to Kiev. "To come to a solution to the overall question, we of course need to have a trilateral meeting," Berger told journalists.
Ukraine: EU Reverse Gas Lower on Gazprom Opposition
Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said on Wednesday reverse gas flows from the European Union to Ukraine had fallen because of opposition from Russian gas producer Gazprom. Ukraine - which consumes around 50 billion cubic metres of gas annually - has increased its efforts to secure more gas from the European Union after Gazprom raised prices for its supplies in a dispute. "Reverse gas supplies are reduced at present. This is linked to certain actions by Gazprom," Prodan told reporters, adding Ukraine first saw a decrease two weeks ago. Gazprom declined to comment on Wednesday.
Fate Of Ukraine-Russia Gas Talks Unclear As Deadline Looms
Ukraine and Russia failed to hold expected talks on a gas pricing dispute on Sunday morning, despite a deadline for Kiev to pay a $1.95 billion debt by Monday or have its gas supplies cut off. Ukraine's Energy Ministry said it hoped the talks, being mediated by the European Union's energy commissioner, would resume later on Sunday but both sides said a time had not been agreed. Halting deliveries to Kiev could disrupt the gas flow to the EU, which receives gas via Ukraine, but prospects for a breakthrough have been hit by armed clashes between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine.
Russia, Ukraine to Hold Gas Crisis Talks as Deadline Looms
Ukraine and Russia will try to avert a gas war in last minute talks on Monday, brokered by the European Union in the hope of preventing supply disruptions and taking the heat out of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia has threatened to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on Tuesday if it does not pay bills that rose sharply after popular protests toppled a pro-Moscow Ukrainian president in February. Moscow has since annexed Crimea from Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels are fighting security forces in the east. The talks…
Russia, Ukraine, EU to resume gas talks on Monday
Moscow , Kiev and Brussels will restart Talks on Russian Gas Supplies on Monday to TRY to resolve a Dispute over price, a Russian Energy Ministry Official Said on Sunday. "The next (Round) of Trilateral Negotiations Tomorrow Evening will Take place in Brussels , "a spokeswoman for the Energy Ministry Said. Russia 's Energy minister Alexander Novak, his Ukrainian counterpart Yuri Prodan and the European Union 's Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger will Take Part in the Talks. Russia 's Gazprom and Ukraine State Energy…
Ukraine to Split Debt-laden Gas Company
Decree expected later on Wednesday with more details; Naftogaz reform a condition of IMF help (Adds comment from energy minister, confirms proposal accepted. Ukraine will to split its debt-laden state-controlled gas company Naftogaz into three separate businesses to comply with European Union rules regulating competition. Reform of Naftogaz has been on the cards for years and could be one solution to the perpetual wrangling between Kiev and Moscow over Ukraine's gas debts, which have disrupted supply to Europe in the past. Taking steps to make Naftogaz profitable could increase its ability to pay its bills on time.
Russia's Gazprom & Ukraine's Naftogaz in Debt Talks
Russian gas company Gazprom and Ukraine's state-owned Naftogaz will continue talks in Berlin on Wednesday to try to settle a gas dispute, Russian news agencies quoted Ukraine's energy minister as saying. "Talks continue today in a two-way format as the Russian side refused to hold them in a three-way format," Yuri Prodan was quoted as saying, adding the talks were expected to last until June 9 - the deadline for Ukraine to pay its gas debts. Russian state-owned exporter Gazprom gave Kiev some respite on Monday by allowing it six more days to pay its debts…
Further Progress In Ukraine-Russia Gas Row - EU
Europe's Energy Commissioner said on Monday Ukraine and Russia had made further progress in a dispute over gas prices and his proposal that Ukraine to pay $2 billion of back debt by Thursday could pave the way for further talks on Friday. Speaking after three-way talks with Russia's and Ukraine's energy ministers, Guenther Oettinger said the two governments would study his proposal that Ukraine pay Russia $2 billion by Thursday and a further $500 million by June 7. Oettinger, acting as a mediator in the capital of his home country Germany…
Gazprom Demands $1.66 bln for Ukrain June Gas
Ukraine, Russia disagree over gas price; Gazprom switches Kiev to prepayment from June. Russia's Gazprom demanded a $1.66 billion pre-payment from Ukraine for June gas deliveries on Tuesday, saying the neighbouring country had only half its requirements in storage to ensure a trouble-free winter. Citing a preliminary bill, Moscow pressed ahead with its demand that Ukraine pay for June deliveries early next month, heightening a dispute over price that is pushing the two countries closer to another gas war that could cut supplies.
EU wants Uniform price for Russian gas for all member states
EU's Oettinger calls for uniform pricing. Wants better gas, electricity links with Ukraine, Georgia. European Union member states should reject Moscow's "divide and rule" tactics on pricing its natural gas exports and forge closer gas and power ties with Ukraine and Georgia, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said on Friday. His call for a uniform Russian gas price for EU members reflects tougher talk in Europe on energy following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and its amassing of troops near their shared border.
Slovakia Signs Deal to Send Gas to Ukraine
Slovakia and Ukraine signed a deal on Monday that allows the European Union to send a limited amount of gas to Ukraine, but providing Kiev with less than it hoped for to cushion the blow should Russia turn off the taps. Ukraine has been trying to secure alternative supplies to those from Russia's Gazprom since Moscow annexed Crimea last month and Gazprom raised prices for its gas to levels Ukraine is refusing to pay. Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine has set off the most serious East-West rift since the end of the Cold War, resulting in EU and U.S. sanctions and raising the threat of interruption of gas supplies from Russia to Europe.
Ukraine Haggles with Slovakia for Bigger Gas Shipments
Ukraine could sign a deal on Monday allowing the shipment of up to 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year from Slovakia, ministers from the two countries said, although Ukraine says its neighbour could pump three times that much. Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine has set off the most serious East-West rift since the end of the Cold War, resulting in EU and U.S. sanctions, mostly in the form of visa bans and asset freezes for a number of Russian officials. Moscow has nearly doubled the natural gas price it…
