Consultations with the first international operators of main gas transmission systems, those being interested to participate in the management of the gas transmission system (GTS) of Ukraine were conducted. Moreover, interviews with several other foreign companies will be carried out in early March. This was announced by Vice Prime Minister Volodymyr Kistion.

According to the Vice Prime Minister, such European gas consortiums as Eustream and Snam, the Gazunie and GRTgaz, GAZsystem, Desfa, Reganosa, Verbunddelz Gaz AG, Fluxys, Transgaz submitted their proposals.

"Gas production in Europe is falling, and demand grows year after year. We have a unique gas transportation system, the largest natural gas storage facility in Europe, we rank the second place among the European countries in gas reserves. Therefore, we observe such a great interest in Ukraine. Our goal is to find a very effective and reliable partner for the management of the GTS in order to ensure the maximum transit of Russian gas to Europe through the Ukrainian pipeline and to guarantee energy security for both Ukraine and Europe," Volodymyr Kistion claimed.

The Working Group set up by the Government of Ukraine shall form proposals to the terms of the competition aimed to conduct a transparent search of international partners for PJSC Mahistralni Hazoprovody Ukrainy.

It is worthy to note that the Working Group was created by the Government of Ukraine in December, 2017, with Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kistion as Chair. Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Ihor Nasalyk is the deputy of the Working Group, Oleksandr Linichenko, Director of the Oil and Gas Complex Department within the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry - the secretary of the group.

Oleksander Dombrovskyi, Acting Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine  on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety,  Tatiana Ryabukha, Director of the Department for Regulation in the Oil and Gas Sector of the National Energy and Utilities Commission, Clare Spottiswoode, Chairman of Naftogaz of Ukraine Supervisory Board, Klaus-Dieter Borchardt, Director, Internal Energy Market, DG ENER, European Commission, Janez Kopacz, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, Anya Brunson, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Ukraine take part in drafting of proposals and recommendations for conducting a competition for the selection of international partners of the Ukrainian gas transportation system are engaged in shaping proposals and recommendations for conducting a competition for the selection of international partners of the Ukrainian gas transportation system.

The Working Group also includes Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Ihor Prokopiv, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine  Oleksii Perevezentsev, Deputy State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Serhii Kushnir, Acting Chairman of the Board of Main Gas Pipelines of Ukraine Valery Nozdrin, Head of Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Konstantin Maryevich, advisers to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister Adomas Auditskas and Eduard Terpitsky, as well as the consultant on restructuring of Naftogaz of Ukraine Alessandro Bertollini.