Ukraine has applied to Russian gas giant Gazprom for delivery of 27 billion cubic meters of gas in 2013, the same volume as Naftogaz earlier said it will receive from Russia in 2012, the Prime news agency reported Friday, citing Naftogaz CEO Evgeny Bakulin.
"The order has already been sent. The volume will be 27 billion cubic meters," Bakulin said during a working visit to the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, Prime reported.
In 2011, Naftogaz imported about 40 Bcm of gas, the company said previously.
Bakulin also said that in the third quarter Naftogaz will pay a little over $426/1,000 cubic meters of gas.
"The price, unfortunately, is planned to increase a few dollars in comparison with the second quarter," Bakulin said.
Russian media earlier reported that Ukraine would pay Russia $432/1,000 cu m in the third quarter.
Ukraine paid Russia about $425/1,000 cu m of gas in the second quarter and $416/1,000 cu m in the first.
These prices include a $100/1,000 cu m discount, which Ukraine obtained in April 2010 in exchange for extending the lease for Russia's naval base in the Crimea by 25 years.
Ukraine has been seeking a lower gas price from Russia in recent years, saying a 2009 deal signed by the then prime minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, and her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, unfairly favors Russia.
FIRST RWE DELIVERIES
Bakulin also said that Ukraine is expecting the first natural gas deliveries under a framework agreement with Germany's RWE this year, which will be priced based on gas prices on the spot market, Prime said.
In May, Naftogaz signed a non-binding deal with RWE for the purchase and sale of gas supplies.
At the time Naftogaz said that the agreement provides a legal basis for RWE to supply natural gas to Ukraine, but does not bind the parties to compulsory purchase or sale of gas.
The company added that prices, delivery volumes and terms for both sides would be defined in separate contracts following negotiations.
Russia is currently the only gas supplier to Ukraine, which imported about 8.6 Bcm of gas in the first quarter of 2012, Naftogaz said previously.
