Gazprom to raise gas prices for Ukraine up to $130 per 1,000 cubic meters since 1 July

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Gas prices for Ukrainian consumers will rise from $110 up to $130 per 1,000 cubic meters (without VAT and transport expenses) since July 1. Such decision will follow the agreement in accordance with which Gazprom is to buy natural gas at the Russian-Kazakh border for $140 per 1,000 cubic meters compared to current $50, Kommersant newspaper informs.

Rise of purchasing price for Kazakhstan gas may instigate to abrupt increase of Turkmen gas price: Gazprom has contracted only 30 billions of cubic meters of Turkmen gas for $65 per 1,000 cubic meters, but 15-20 billions cubic meters more are necessary.

As REGNUM earlier informed, Kharkov Mayor, member of the Ukrainian Regions Party Mikhail Drobkin forecasted the gas price increase for Ukrainian consumers. He stated that if the Ukrainian authorities would not basically reconsider relations with Russia, next gas price increase for Ukrainian population is to be expected in September 2006.

Ukraine owes $600 millions to RosUkrEnergo (RUE) JSC for gas supply in January-February 2006. Gazprom requested the RUE to pay the $600 millions debt for gas supply into Ukraine. In its turn, the RUE raised claim to the same sum against Naftogaz Ukraine Company, which did not pay the RUE for January-April 2006 gas supply. Gazprom, the Naftogaz Ukraine, and the RUE Companies signed agreement on gas supply into Ukraine in January 2006. According to it, the RUE supplies Russian and Turkmen gas for average price of $95 per 1,000 cubic meters, which is valid in first half of 2006. Also, basic price of Russian gas for Ukraine, which totals $230 per 1,000 cubic meters, is recorded there.