The transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine during the period from January to March of current year has decreased on comparison with the same period 2013 to 8, 3% and amounted to 18, 61 billion cubic meters, said the press service of the Ministry of energy and coal industry of Ukraine.
Gas imports to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2014 has decreased by 13, 8% - up to 6, 092 billion cubic meters, consumption inside the country fell by eleven, 8% - up to 18, 404 billion cubic meters, ITAR-TASS reported. Gas production in Ukraine has increased in January-March 2% - to 4, 882 billion cubic meters. First Russian energy Minister Alexander Novak said that if Kyiv until 7 may not pay for the delivered Ukraine in April, gas, may 16, Gazprom will put the country preliminary bill for the export of blue fuel in June. He also called circumstances with the pumping of gas into Ukrainian underground storage critical, calling on Brussels and Kyiv to take urgent measures to resolve it. The official representative of Gazprom Sergei Kupriyanov said that Ukraine's debt on payments for gas from Russia on April 30, is 3, 492 billion. In the beginning of winter 2013, that is, even before the change of power in Kiev, Ukraine was provided with discount (price 268, 5 dollars per thousand cubic meters). Gazprom from April 1 cancelled the discount and increased the price to 385 5 dollar as Kyiv, regardless of December arrangements, paid the debt and current supplies. on 3 April, it was announced the cancellation and discounts on Kharkiv contracts 2010, which was given in exchange for an extension of stay of the black sea fleet in Crimea, and the price rose to $ 485.

sections: Politics