(Ukrinform) - Turkmenistan has proposed that Ukraine review the price of natural gas, Fuel and Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov said at a press conference at the Boryspil airport on Friday upon his return from Turkmenistan.
According to Mr. Plachkov, Turkmenistan proposed delivering 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Ukraine in the fourth quarter of this year at the price of US$ 100 per 1,000 cubic meters, reports Trend.
He said that Ukraine is insisting on delivery of natural gas at the price of US$ 60 per 1,000 cubic meters that is stipulated in the current agreement.
He said that Ukraine did not accept the proposed price change and that it intends to continue consultations on the volume of Turkmen gas deliveries to Ukraine and the delivery price.
He also said that he and Turkmenistan's minister of Oil & Gas Industry and Mineral Resources agreed on transition to exclusively cash settlements for the investment projects that Ukrainian contractors are implementing in Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan previously delivered natural gas to Ukraine in payment for such projects.
Moreover, Ukraine and Turkmenistan agreed a timetable for settling Turkmenistan's debt of US$ 50 million to Ukraine's Frunze scientific production association (Sumy) for reconstruction of two gas compressor stations.
Regarding Ukraine's debt to Turkmenistan, which amounts to about US$ 64 million, agreement was reached to deliver Ukrainian large-diameter pipes worth US$ 59.5 million as well as other equipment worth US$ 4.7 million in payment of the debt
Ukraine's The Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company and Turkmenistan's Turkmengaz state concern signed an agreement in December 2005 on delivery of 40 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine at the price of US$ per 1,000 cubic meters in the first half of 2006 and US$ 60 per 1,000 cubic meters in the second half of the year.
However, Turkmengaz stopped delivering natural gas to Naftohaz Ukrainy on January 1, 2006, despite the existence of this agreement.