Ukraine to sue Gazprom if it rejects new transit tariff

KIEV, Jan 20 (PRIME) -- Ukraine will file a suit against Russian gas giant Gazprom to the Stockholm Arbitration court if the company refuses to pay for the transit of natural gas under a new tariff, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Vladimir Demchishin told reporters Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Demchishin said Kiev increased transit tariffs for Gazprom by over 50% to U.S. $4.5 for 1,000 cubic meters of gas per 100 kilometers from $2.7. Previously, Kiev said it planned to raise the tariff to $5 and extend the transit agreement with Gazprom after 2019.

“Now the problem of talks with Gazprom, of trying to make it understand that it has to switch to the new tariff making principles,” he said, adding that the decision to raise tariffs is in effect from January 1.

When asked what will happen, if the Russian company refuses to pay under the new tariff, he said that the meeting point “is in Stockholm.”

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