Volodymyr Groysman: Maximum level of market gas price to eliminate corruption in gas price formation
The maximum level
of market gas price will root out corruption in the gas sector, due to which
Ukraine lost USD 53 billion, and encourage an increase in Ukrainian gas
production, energy efficiency and energy independence, Prime Minister of
Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has
stated during a conversation with journalists in the Parliament of Ukraine on Friday.
"We set the
maximum level of natural gas price in order to eliminate corruption. The Government’s
step was aimed at rooting out corruption in gas price formation," said Volodymyr Groysman
According to the materials
of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, dealers purchased the state gas at a price 3-4 times
less, "including those present in the Parliament who might block the
rostrum today," and was resold to Ukrainians 2-3 times more expensive, reminded
the Prime Minister.
Over the past 10
years in these schemes, according to experts, Ukraine has lost 53 billion dollars.
By
setting the maximum level of market price for gas, the Government eliminated corruption
element, he said.
However, the establishment
of the market-based price for gas will stimulate an increase in Ukrainian gas production
and energy efficiency in the country, Volodymyr Groysman added.
"The Government
will revive gas production in order to produce Ukrainian gas instead of delivering
imported gas, as it was earlier, from Gazprom, and
this will give the opportunity to produce gas for domestic needs," he stressed.
The Prime
Minister noted that about 8 billion cubic meters of gas extracted in Ukraine is
produced by private companies. He
underlined that from 2008 to 2012 private companies were granted 150 licenses,
while state-owned companies have received no license for gas production. Volodymyr
Groysman emphasized that Ukrainian gas production had
been destroying.
The market price
for gas will also reduce gas consumption and provide energy independence and
strengthening of the country, the Prime Minister highlighted.