Gazprom asserts Monday deadline for Ukraine gas bill

Russian energy firm Gazprom has set Monday 16 June as the “final deadline” for Ukraine to pay its gas debt. Yesterday Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller confirmed it wants the $1.95 […]

Russian energy firm Gazprom has set Monday 16 June as the “final deadline” for Ukraine to pay its gas debt.

Yesterday Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller confirmed it wants the $1.95 billion (£1.15bn) payment from Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz, for gas used in November and December 2013.

The firm has threatened to switch to a pre-payment system if it doesn’t get the cash, meaning Ukraine would only get gas it has paid for in advance.

Ukraine already missed a first deadline a week ago and was given more time by its bigger neighbour.

Gazprom made a final gas price offer of $385 per 1,000 cubic meters, $100 cheaper than an initial offer but more than the $268.50 price tag hoped for by Kiev.

In a statement issued yesterday the firm said: “Gazprom is ready to increase gas supplies through the Nord Stream and the Yamal-Europe pipelines, as well as to start to increase injections into underground storage in the EU to ensure that Gazprom’s European customers get all the required gas should there be any disruptions to gas transit through Ukraine.”

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