Ukraine imports almost $8 bln in Russian gas in 7mths - State Stats
KYIV. Sept 25 (Interfax) - Naftogaz Ukrainy and OstChem Holding Ltd (Cyprus) imported 18.738 billion cubic meters of Russia natural gas worth $7.934 billion in January-July 2012, the Ukrainian State Statistics Service said in its materials.
According to the service, Ukraine imported 2.8227 bcm of Russian gas in July 2012 worth $1.0297 billion. The average price for Russian natural gas imported in July was $428.59 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Naftogaz Ukrainy earlier said that payment to Gazprom for natural gas imports in July 2012 came to $930 million. Therefore, OstChem, which is controlled by Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash, imported around $280 million worth in Russian gas in July.
According to the service, Ukraine only imported Russian gas in January-July.
For January-July 2011, Ukraine imported 30.7239 bcm of natural gas worth $8.6 billion, including 28.711 bcm of Russian gas worth $8.016 billion.
The major decrease in imports this year was the result of Naftogaz Ukrainy's purchase of large volumes of gas at the start of 2011 in order to implement a decision of the Stockholm Arbitrage Court to return 12.1 bcm of gas to RosUkrEnergo. In addition, the decrease in gas imports was driven by Ukraine's efforts to reduce purchases because of the high price for Russian gas.
