Tariff for gas transit to be raised - Orzhel

Energy and Environmental Protection Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Orzhel stated this at a briefing on Saturday, commenting on the results of the talks that took place in Minsk on December 20, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

“Due to the fact that we have some reduction in the guaranteed volumes of transportation, the parties understand that the tariff [for gas transit] should grow. This means that there will be a certain increase in the tariff for transportation,” said Orzhel.

He added that the final tariff would be determined by the regulator, considering gas volumes and using European tariff methodologies.

"There is a clear understanding of the parties - the tariff must be increased in some way," said Orzhel.

As reported, following the fifth round of gas transit talks in Berlin on December 19, Energy and Environmental Protection Minister Oleksiy Orzhel and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stated that a final protocol had been developed which brought the parties closer to the signing of final agreements.

During the talks in Minsk on December 20, representatives of the European Commission, Ukraine and the Russian Federation reached a final agreement on principle positions on the transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine.

The current gas transit contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom expires on December 31, 2019.

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