Is Ukrainian fuel and energy minister going to Moscow for compromise?

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On Tuesday, August 22, Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuri Boyko is to pay a working visit to Russia, the press service of the Ministry has informed REGNUM.

During the visit Boyko is to meet with Gazprom Board Chairman Alexei Miller. The sides will search for a compromise in the issue of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine.

In an interview to Business daily (Ukraine) on August 21, Boyko said that the scenario of leasing Ukraine’s gas transportation system or transferring it into concessionary or joint management is unacceptable because this issue is much too politicized. Boyko said that the only problem of Ukraine’s gas transportation system is insufficient financing. It has no other problems, it works at full capacity, its personnel are highly qualified. Boyko said that the cost of Ukraine’s gas transportation system is $20bl-50 bl while its modernization costs $500 mln a year.

To note, Boyko’s first visit in the capacity of Minister was to Moscow. During an August 14-15 meeting in Sochi Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich instructed Boyko to draft proposals on stable gas supplies to Ukraine and acceptable gas prices in late 2006-2007.