Naftogaz can purchase almost half of needed gas from Russia – CEO Kobolev

Ukraine currently needs 10 billion cubic meters of gas, and half of that volume could be purchased from Russia.

CEO of NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Andriy Kobolev said this on the air of Channel 5, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Ukraine's approximate need for imports is about 10 billion cubic meters. The market changes, the weather changes, but it’s about 10 billion," Kobolev said.

According to him, Ukraine can purchase about half of this volume from the Russian Federation. At the same time, Kobolev recalled that the Stockholm Arbitration obliged Ukraine to purchase from Russia 4-5 billion cubic meters of gas in accordance with the contract, which is valid until 2019.

"The price that we get is lower than the price of the European gas hub. This decision is both logical and mandatory," the CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine said.

As reported, pursuant to the decision of the Stockholm Arbitration, Ukraine is obliged to resume deliveries of the minimum volumes of gas from Russia in accordance with the "take or pay" provision of the contract.

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