Official: Kiev agrees with EU offer on Russian gas transit deal

KIEV, Jul 19 (PRIME) -- Ukrainian energy holding Naftogaz Ukrainy agrees to prolong the transit deal for Russian gas on the conditions offered by Vice President of the European Commission for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic, Executive Director Yury Vitrenko said in a Facebook post late on Thursday.

The E.U. official earlier suggested Russia and Ukraine sign an owner-operator agreement for 90 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually and an agreement of capacity lease or swap for 60 bcm per year for an average of 10 years.

“Mr. Sefcovic, vice-president of the European Commission, offered at the last trilateral meeting an option corresponding to Europe’s comprehension of economically viable transit conditions, which can be realized. We agree with this scenario. If the Russian side agrees as well, we can start to work on the agreements to fulfill this scenario right now,” Vitrenko said.

The current supply and transit contracts between Russia and Ukraine expire at the end of 2019.

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