The head of the Ukrainian Naftogaz Andrey KOBOLEV has expressed hope that in 2016 the country will be able to do without gas from Russia through imports from the European Union and reduce consumption.
"I think in 2016? We will be able to dispense gas from Russia by increasing imports from Europe and lowering consumption in Ukraine? We will be able if necessary to purchase all the gas from Europe ", - said Korolev, RIA " Novosti ".
"We now began to purchase gas on the reverse at prices more attractive than gas from Russia (227, 36 dollars per thousand cubic meters in the fourth quarter). Accordingly, We will balance between the Russian gas and European gas, to optimize the purchasing portfolio, because We have available capacity as the one from the back side, " - said the Head of Naftogaz. First Thursday Korolev said that Kiev is fully paid for the supply of 2 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia During the winter package. He also said that on the first day weekend Kiev plans to complete the pumping of gas from Russia, but not willing to stop buying gas then, although on September 28 the Head of the Ministry of energy of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn said that Kyiv plans this winter to buy from Gazprom only 2 billion cubic meters of gas, the rest ? be purchased in the European Union. On Wednesday, the Head of the energy Ministry of Russia Alexander Novak told Kiev to continue to buy gas from Russia, to guard the risks of passing the winter, but noticed that as long as data DATACOPY from Ukraine were reported. Tuesday Demchyshyn has acknowledged that his country till the end of the year will not be able to accumulate in underground storages need for the winter season to 19 billion cubic meters of blue fuel. Along with this, Ukraine began massive deforestation for firewood, as well as among them protected. Trees are felled even in the region of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In Kiev, now about 165 homes still remain without heat.

sections: Politics