Mykola Azarov, the prime-minster of Ukraine who is paying a working visit to Astana on November 23 and 24 is ready to discuss with the authorities of Kazakhstan the issues of natural gas production and its transportation from the Central Asia as well as the ratification of a treaty on the Free Market Zone creation.
Vitaliy Lukyanenko, the press-secretary of the Ukrainian prime-minister told the journalists that Azarov is planning to discuss the issues of Ukrainian companies’ participation in the production and prospecting of natural gas in Kazakhstan. According to Lukyanenko, this issue will become most important after Ukraine joins the Free Market Zone since on getting the direct access to the gas pipeline the country will be able to agree on direct deliveries of the Central Asian natural gas.
The press secretary of the Ukrainian prime-minister also reminded that the agreement on the free market zone was signed by Ukraine in October in St. Petersburg and according to the document it is to get the free access to the pipe line after a half-year period.
It should be reminded that Ukraine took a decision to join the free market zone created within the framework of the CIS in October this year. The states which signed this agreement are to abolish import and export duties for certain types of goods. The agreement is to come into force starting from January 1 next year.
Earlier Mykola Azarov emphasized that this agreement would allow Ukraine to use the Russian gas transportation system and agree on gas deliveries from the Central Asia. At present the country buys natural gas only from Russia, considers the Russian gas prices to be excessive and would like to change the present situation by diversifying gas deliveries.
Метки: Free Trade Zone, gas, gas deliveries, gas transportation, Ukrainian energy industry news
