Ukraine might mothball part of its gas transportation system - PM Azarov
YALTA. Sept 17 (Interfax) - Ukraine might mothball part of its gas transportation system to cut its losses in the absence of clear confirmation of the volumes of gas to be transported across its territory to Europe, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.
"The Ukrainian gas transportation system's annual capacity is 150 billion cubic meters of gas, including three pipes each having capacity of 50 billion cubic meters, while only about 80 billion cubic meters are pumped through it. Perhaps we should mothball part of it. Why should we be incurring losses?" Azarov said at a press conference at the 8th Yalta Annual Meeting 'Ukraine and the World: Common Challenges, Common Future' on Saturday.
Ukraine needs guarantees of gas volumes to be pumped through its gas transportation system both from the European Union as the consumer and Russia as the supplier, he said.