Agro Perspectiva

Kyiv and Brussels to hold high-level meeting on energy issues

08.07.2013 09:21 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — "Kyiv and Brussels intend to hold a meeting of a high-level committee on energy issues in Kyiv in September, a few weeks ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius," Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky told reporters, following his meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger in Brussels on last week Thursday, NRCU reports. «Consultations are now underway between the Fuel and Energy Ministry and the European Commission. We expect them to result in a practicable action plan for this committee. The committee will be in charge of gas and electric power supplies, gas market liberalization, and alternative sources of energy,» he said, adding that the committee would include EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and would be chaired by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. Stavytsky further said that within several weeks European Commission experts would complete a legal evaluation of the proposed contract for reverse deliveries of natural gas from Slovakia to Ukraine. «This matter needs to be settled on a legal basis so as to stave off any possible disputes down the road. Some monopolies contend that gas deliveries from the EU to Ukraine must be a certain kind of machination. I say again: there is no machination,» Stavytsky said. According to him, the point at issue is the Slovakia-Ukraine corridor — one of the most powerful gas delivery routes with a potential annual capacity of up to ten billion cubic meters of gas. «We don’t mean we are necessarily going to buy that amount. We just want Ukraine to get additional capacities for diversifying deliveries of natural gas at a fair price. That’s it. We don’t want to offend anyone, we just want to reach agreements complying with international standards,» the minister said. As he explained, an expert legal analysis is needed to prevent «any negative consequences for either party to gas delivery contracts» or any disputes in relation to fines or lawsuits. The minister said that the trial period for gas deliveries from Slovakia, which began on May 15th, would continue until the completion of the legal analysis. Commenting on Russia’s hard position with regard to Ukraine, particularly Gazprom’s statement warning EU countries against reselling natural gas to Ukraine, Stavytsky said, «This means that we are on the right track. If they react this way, it means that we are doing it right. Technologically, Slovakia is ready for transit. Now we need to make sure it is legally impeccable,» Stavytsky said.