Energy Ministry not to partake in Gazprom-Ukraine transit talks

MOSCOW, Apr 6 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Energy Ministry does not plan to participate in negotiations on a gas transit contract between gas giant Gazprom and Ukrainian energy holding Naftogaz Ukrainy, Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Friday.

“We don’t plan to hold these meetings as it is a subject of discussion between the commercial companies, and they should first negotiate it between themselves and discuss technical and economic details of the contracts,” he said.

The time for discussions is yet to come, but they may start even before a court rules on Gazprom’s appeal, he said.

Novak also plans no meetings with European Commission’s Vice President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic to discuss disputes between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy. For now, the dispute is for the companies to solve, he said.

The Stockholm arbitration court ruled on March 1 that Gazprom must pay Naftogaz Ukrainy U.S. $2.56 billion for non-shipment of gas. Gazprom contested the court’s decisions on the gas supply and gas transit contracts with Naftogaz Ukrainy, and launched proceedings to terminate the contracts.

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