Naftogaz Will Buy Gas From Alternative Suppliers.

Naftogaz’s CEO Oleksiy Ivchenko revealed that Naftogaz has signed contracts to bolster gas supplies with Trans-Nafta (6 bln cm at USD 59.5 per 1,000 cm before export duties) and Rosukrenergo (5 bln cm; price undisclosed). This will not only cover the shortfall of 7.8 bln cm created as a result of the dispute with Gazprom, but will also allow for gas exports in excess of the shortfall. However, Gazprom’s management denies the existence of any new contracts dealing with additional deliveries of Russian gas to Ukraine. The Ukrainian government plans to investigate the original gas contracts today. In addition to this, the Ukrainian government is attempting to diversify Ukraine?s gas supplies. Petro Poroshenko, the head of the National Security Council, met with Iranian officials yesterday in Teheran to discuss the possibility of Iranian gas being shipped to Europe through Ukraine.