As Central Asian producers prepare to raise prices, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Friday that gas prices for Ukraine would more than double.
"It is too early to draw conclusions because talks between Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz are ongoing. The statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry cannot be currently considered as anything but political," company spokesman Valentin Zemlyansky said.
Under a contract signed with Gazprom in March, the Russian energy giant committed itself to supplying Ukraine with at least 49.8 billion cu m of Central Asian gas at $179.5 per 1,000 cu m from March until December 2008. Central Asian countries pledged to raise prices to European levels next year.
Zemlyansky said the price would depend on many factors, including tariffs for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe.
"Therefore, a final decision will be made during the final round of talks which started several weeks ago," he said.
