Parliament approves bill on unbundling GTS from Naftogaz

The Verkhovna Rada approved at second reading and in whole the draft law "On amending certain laws of Ukraine in connection with the unbundling of natural gas transmission activities," No.2239-1.

A total of 341 MPs voted for the relevant document, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

When reporting on the dart law, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities Services, Andriy Gerus, stated that the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the bill in whole.

Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksiy Orzhel said that the adoption of the bill was "a historic moment" in protecting Ukrainian interests and recalled that negotiations with the Russian Federation on gas transit should be continued.

The bill is aimed at ensuring the fulfillment of Ukraine’s obligations regarding unbundling activities on transportation of natural gas and electricity and ensuring activities of gas transmission system operator, transmission system operator in line with the protocol on Ukraine’s joining the agreement on establishing the energy community and relevant provisions of the Association Agreement with the EU.

The draft law developed for second reading prohibits privatization and alienation in any form of the gas transmission system of Ukraine or parts of its assets.

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