23.05.03

Gas transit consortium may be formed

Russian ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin believes a concession of Ukrainian gas transit pipelines or their long term lease to the international gas transport consortium should be considered among other options.

"The matter should definitely be raised, because the consortium will function only if it manages something, if it relies on something. If it doesn't, what kind of consortium or company will it be?" he said in a Thursday interview in Kyiv, commenting on Germany's proposal on the concession of the gas pipelines.

Chernomyrdin said either a concession or long-term lease could be in question, but the matter should be considered only in the framework of Ukrainian law.

Russia and Ukraine formed the international consortium for managing and advancing Ukraine's gas transport networks on a parity basis. At the beginning of November 2002, Naftogaz of Ukraine and Gazprom of Russia signed its founding documents.

Later, Germany's Ruhrgas was invited to trilateral talks on the international consortium, which should guarantee the transportation of gas, as well as the reliability, safety and stability of operations of the Ukrainian gas pipeline network on a mutually-beneficial basis.

(Interfax)