Gazprom, Naftogaz to discuss upgrading Ukraine GTS in Kyiv next week - Ukrainian minister
KYIV. April 5 (Interfax) - Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy experts will next week hold another round of talks on the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS), Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky has said.
"The experts will talk next week. A group of them will come to [Kyiv]," he said in Kyiv on Friday.
He noted that the Russian side wants to create a bilateral gas consortium, whereas Ukraine has a broader view.
"We're currently holding consultations with our European and Russian colleagues. The final option will be approved transparently and publicly," Stavytsky said.
When asked whether Ukraine is considering the creation of a bilateral consortium, the minister said: "We're considering all options."
At the same time, when asked to comment on some reports in the media that Russia has allegedly withdrawn from the negotiations on the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transport system, Stavytsky said he had not heard this.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said the country was thinking of leasing the GTS out to secure the funds to modernize it, keep it in working order and obtain guarantees of transit volumes.
As reported, late in March 2012, Naftogaz Ukrainy declared Kyiv-based Baker Tilly Ukraine, an independent member of Baker Tilly International, the winner of a tender to choose an expert for the evaluation of assets in the Ukrainian GTS. The company was to appraise the GTS, including its underground gas storage facilities and infrastructure facilities, by August 1.
Ukrtransgaz operates Ukraine's system of main gas pipelines and underground gas storage facilities. At the input, the gas transport system's throughput capacity totals 288 billion cubic meters (bcm); and at the output - 178.5 bcm.
Ukrtransgaz's gas transport system comprises 72 compressor stations, 110 plants and 1,451 gas distribution stations. The gas pipelines that the company operates total 38,600 kilometers in length, including main pipelines - 22,200 km, and branch pipelines - 16,400 km.
Ukraine possesses 13 underground gas storage facilities, with a total active capacity of over 31 bcm. Ukrtransgaz operates 12 of the facilities and the system of gas pipelines, and Black Sea Gas (Chornomornaftogaz), 100% of which belongs to Naftogaz, operates one facility.