Ukraine to announce tender for gas system operator next week

KIEV, Oct 31 (PRIME) -- Ukraine’s Energy and Coal Ministry will announce conditions of a public tender for U.S. and E.U. investors to operate and upgrade the country’s gas transportation system, the ministry said in a statement Friday quoting Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk as saying.

“A corresponding law is approved. We are preparing a public tender to attract investors from the E.U. and the U.S. for a joint operating and upgrading our gas transportation system,” Yatsenyuk said.

On August 14, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, approved legislation amendments that allowed a transfer of control over the system from Naftogaz Ukrainy to an operator chosen by the Energy and Coal Ministry. A 51% stake in the operator must be held by the government, while the rest can be owned by Ukrainian, E.U., U.S. companies or any participant of the European Energy Community.

Three western companies, including U.S. Chevron, plan to bid at the auction.

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