The price of gas for Ukraine will be above 250 dollars, "Naftogaz did not pay for the delivered declare at the secretariat Yushchenko

The price of imported gas for Ukraine in 2009 will be higher than budgeted country projections of $ 250 per thousand cubic meters, believed in the secretariat of the Ukrainian president, RIA "Novosti".

Naftogaz of Ukraine will receive gas at the new price, which I think they will not even 250 dollars, as the Government predicts, "- said on Friday authorized the President on international energy security Bohdan Sokolovsky.

At the same time, according to Sokolovsky, NAK Naftogaz Ukrainy has not paid part of the imported gas from Russia, which has been uploaded into underground gas storage (UGS) in 2008, so the fuel can go into the ownership of Russian Gazprom .

It is about 14 billion cubic meters. "If these amounts are not paid, the NAKu will have no choice other than pay these amounts on the balance of Gazprom and, with effect from 1 January (2009) buy it for the price, which says Gazprom - quoted Sokolovsky Agency.

But he noted that there is a real possibility that those levels due to non-payment could be transferred to a Russian holding company and will be acquired in 2009 Naftogaz "at a price higher than reflected in the arrangements for 2008 (179.5 dollars per thousand cubic meter).

The annual gas balance of Ukraine is about 70-75 billion cubic meters, of which 20 billion - its own gas production. The price of imported gas in 2008 at 179.5 dollars per thousand cubic meters. Kiev hopes that in 2009 it will not exceed $ 300 (in the state budget for next year laid the price of 250 dollars per thousand cubic meters).

However, the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller earlier did not rule out that gas for Ukraine will cost $ 400. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko expects to sign an agreement with Russia on gas deliveries next year to the end of October this year. She also hopes that it will defend a price below $ 400 per thousand cubic meters. In 2008, Ukraine pays for gas imported from Russia, to 179.5 dollars per thousand cubes. The head of Gazprom Alexei Miller earlier did not rule out that gas to Ukraine since the beginning of 2009 would cost $ 400.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Friday called on his government to reach an early agreement on gas from Russia, and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said that would try until the end of October to sign with Russia a long-term agreement on gas, defense and the price for 2009 below $ 400.