Arseniy Yatsenyuk: Ukraine gets rid of Russian gas addiction

The Prime Minister of Ukraine thinks the country has significantly reduced its dependence on Russian gas.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said it opening a meeting of the Cabinet of Minister on Wednesday, Ukrainska Pravda reports.

“We got rid of Russian gas addiction, but the process is not completed. Well, even Europe cannot fully overcome its dependence on Russian gas. Together with our European and American partners, we have replaced 60% of Russian natural gas supplies with gas supplies from the EU,” he said.

Yatsenyuk recalled that Ukraine refused to accept Russia's temporary “discount” on gas in June that would have led later to a price of $500 per 1000 cubic metres, and thus saved 500 million dollars.

“The gas we buy from our European partners is cheaper than that we were expected to buy from Russia,” Yatsenyuk explained.

He stressed that Ukraine would further increase reverse flow gas deliveries from the EU, build new gas pipelines and take other measures to diversify gas supplies.

According to him, a number of contract were signed, in particular with Statoil as well as with German and French companies.

Yatsenyuk said Ukraine cut gas consumption by 20% in 2014 compared to 2013.

He expressed a hope for less lobbying in the new parliament that will allow making Ukraine's gas production more transparent.

Yatsenyuk said the government and Europe would continue financing the programme on home insulation and installing heat meters.

“Our efforts in energy diversification and reducing our dependence on Russia have proved to be successful. We will continue moving further,” the Ukrainian PM said.