Gazprom Urges Naftogaz to Pay $2.2 Billion Debt

Russia’s Gazprom met a representation of Ukraine’s Naftogaz, heaping pressure on Kiev to take immediate action.

‘The focus of the meeting fell on the necessity for Naftogaz of Ukraine to take the urgent action aimed at settling the accumulated debt for the supplied Russian gas. By now, Naftogaz owes more than USD 2.2 billion including overdue payments for March supplies,’ reads a note released on Thursday.

Gazprom revised upwards the estimates of Ukrainian debt. Previous figures indicated a $ 1.7 billion debt.

At the same time, the Russian company urged Naftogaz to increase the stored gas in order to maintain a stable transit to Europe.

‘Grave concern was expressed regarding a considerable reduction of the working gas capacity in Ukrainian UGS facilities. In this situation they need to be replenished right now to satisfy the domestic demand during the forthcoming winter and, accordingly, to enable Naftogaz fulfill its obligations on uninterrupted Russian gas transit to Europe,’ concludes the communiqué.

In the meantime, Lukoil announced that ‘Lukoil-Ukraine, an enterprise with foreign investments, has sold 13 gas-filling stations and one oil depot, all in the Crimean peninsula, to Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt.’