KIEV, April 24 (RIA Novosti) – Ukrainian state-run gas company Naftogaz cut by half imports of natural gas from Russia’s Gazprom last year as compared to the year before, Naftogaz told the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency.
The company purchased some 12.9 billion cubic meters of Russian gas in 2013, down from 25 billion cubic meters in 2012.
On Thursday, it was announced Gazprom had invoiced Naftogaz for $11.4 billion in arrears of natural gas in terms of a take-or-pay contract for 2013. Under the terms of the contract, Gazprom was to supply Naftogaz with up to 52 billion cubic meters of gas annually, 80 percent of which must be purchased or penalties would be imposed.
In 2010-2012, Naftogaz failed to withdraw the minimum amount.
Naftogaz has yet to comment on the invoice.
Gazprom charged the Ukrainian company with $7 billion in arrears for 2012 in January 2013. In June, an official representative of the Russian holding, Sergei Kupriyanov, said that Gazprom would not go to court over the non-payment of bills, because there was no prospect that Naftogaz could come up with the money.
