Ukraine will receive about $ 2 billion for services for the transit of Russian gas in 2020. This was announced by the head of the board of the company “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Andriy Kobolev in an interview with journalist Yanina Sokolova, which on Tuesday, September 16, was posted on the Youtube channel.
“I think this year the figure will be close to $ 2 billion, approximately,” he said.
The head of the company’s board added that the new contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom is based on the “pump or pay” principle, which implies that payment should be made for the volumes of the reserved transit capacities of Ukraine, regardless of whether or not there were physical gas supplies.
Kobolev also recalled the risks of a complete cessation of transit for Kiev, which could occur if the construction and launch of the second branch of the Nord Stream gas pipeline is completed.
According to him, for Ukraine this will mean that after the completion of the transit contract “with a high probability there will be no gas transit through the territory of Ukraine.” At the same time, during the period of the contract, payment for transit will be made from the Russian side, because otherwise Ukraine will go to court, he stressed.
“If this money is not received by us (about $ 7.2 billion dollars in the period from 2020 to 2024 – Ed.), Then with a high probability we will also go to court and their [деньги] we’ll just sue, “added Kobolev.
The German side, he said, is unlikely to abandon the Nord Stream 2 project. However, Kiev expects that US sanctions against the gas pipeline could block its completion.
“Our tactic is to promote sanctions in Washington,” said Kobolev.
In June, Kobolev said that the claim of the Verkhovna Rada deputies to the Constitutional Court on the illegal separation of the GTS operator from Naftogaz could disrupt the transit of gas from the Russian Federation.
In January-April 2020, the volume of gas transit through Ukraine decreased by 47% compared to the same period last year.
On December 31, 2019 it became known that Gazprom and the Ukrainian GTS Operator signed an agreement on transit. In 2020, 65 billion cubic meters should pass through Ukraine. m of gas. Then, by 2024, annual deliveries will amount to 40 billion cubic meters. m.