24.10.02

Russia urges Ukraine not to be slow in implementing gas consortium project

The signing of an agreement to establish an international gas pipeline consortium has removed the issue of building a Russian gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine from the agenda. However, if Ukraine implements the agreement too slowly, Russia will have to go back to the first plan, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin has stated.

He said on ICTV television that "Ukraine has a powerful gas pipeline system and must keep it in reliable condition." The gas pipeline consortium "can and must guarantee the reliability of this system," Chernomyrdin said.

He said that Ukraine's powerful gas pipeline system, which is 35,000 kilometers long and has over 70 compressor stations, "is in need of $1.5 billion-$2 billion annually, if it is to be kept in working and reliable condition." "But this load is too heavy for one country," the Russian ambassador said.

(Interfax)