Post by Shadow on Jan 24, 2006 7:16:01 GMT -5
Breitbart
Ukraine has been withholding some Russian natural gas exports meant for customers in Europe, where several countries have reported falls in gas supplies amid a severe cold weather snap, an official with Ukraine's state-owned energy firm told AFP.
"We have in fact allowed the withholding of gas in excess of the contract during the past day," a Naftogaz official said on the condition of anonymity.
The official declined to say how much gas Ukraine -- which transports the vast majority of Russian gas exports to Europe -- was using over and above its agreed contract with Moscow.
"But we are certain that according to monthly totals, Ukraine will withhold exactly the volume agreed with Gazprom," the official said.
Earlier, a spokesman for Ukraine's Prime Minister Yury Yekhanurov denied charges by Russia's state-owned Gazprom giant that Kiev was withholding European supplies.
Although gas consumption in Ukraine has risen to record levels because of a severe cold snap gripping the country, "the increase of gas use in Ukraine has not at all affected the carrying out of our transport obligations," spokesman Valentin Mondrievsky told AFP.
Ukraine has been withholding some Russian natural gas exports meant for customers in Europe, where several countries have reported falls in gas supplies amid a severe cold weather snap, an official with Ukraine's state-owned energy firm told AFP.
"We have in fact allowed the withholding of gas in excess of the contract during the past day," a Naftogaz official said on the condition of anonymity.
The official declined to say how much gas Ukraine -- which transports the vast majority of Russian gas exports to Europe -- was using over and above its agreed contract with Moscow.
"But we are certain that according to monthly totals, Ukraine will withhold exactly the volume agreed with Gazprom," the official said.
Earlier, a spokesman for Ukraine's Prime Minister Yury Yekhanurov denied charges by Russia's state-owned Gazprom giant that Kiev was withholding European supplies.
Although gas consumption in Ukraine has risen to record levels because of a severe cold snap gripping the country, "the increase of gas use in Ukraine has not at all affected the carrying out of our transport obligations," spokesman Valentin Mondrievsky told AFP.