Brussels, 06/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, is calling for a tripartite EU-Ukraine-Russia gas consortium to act in the interests of all three.
Speaking at a conference in Munich last week on security of supplies, Viktor Yanukovych called for the establishment of a tripartite gas consortium (33%, 33% and 34% for Ukraine) to ensure transparent management of the Ukrainian gas transport system through uniform rules. The consortium would mainly be responsible for updating the gas transport system in Ukraine, through which transits 80% of Russian gas supplies to the EU. Ukraine only uses two-thirds of its gas transport capacity at present. Last month, EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger told Kiev and Moscow that the EU was prepared to be the third party in such a consortium. Russia has not yet reacted to the idea. (EH/transl.fl)